Lighthouses have long captivated the imagination, serving as beacons of hope and safety for sailors and as romantic symbols of coastal life. Across the United States, numerous lighthouses offer visitors the chance to explore these historic structures and learn about their crucial role in maritime history.
This guide highlights 20 of the best places in the U.S. where lighthouse enthusiasts can embark on unforgettable tours and immerse themselves in the allure of these iconic coastal sentinels.
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, North Carolina
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The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, America’s tallest brick lighthouse, stands as a sentinel on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Visitors can climb the 257 steps to the top for panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and learn about the lighthouse’s history of being moved to save it from coastal erosion.
Portland Head Light, Maine
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Portland Head Light, commissioned by George Washington in 1791, is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world. The adjacent museum in the former keeper’s quarters offers insights into the lighthouse’s history and the maritime heritage of Casco Bay.
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Pigeon Point Lighthouse, California
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Pigeon Point Lighthouse, one of the tallest lighthouses in America, offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Coast. While the tower itself is closed for restoration, visitors can tour the grounds, visit the lighthouse lens exhibit, and even stay overnight in the historic keeper’s quarters.
Split Rock Lighthouse, Minnesota
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Perched on a 130-foot cliff overlooking Lake Superior, Split Rock Lighthouse is a stunning example of early 20th-century engineering. Visitors can tour the lighthouse, keeper’s house, and fog signal building, all restored to their 1920s appearance.
Cape May Lighthouse, New Jersey
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The Cape May Lighthouse, located in Cape May Point State Park, offers visitors a chance to climb to the top for panoramic views of the Jersey Shore. The Oil House on the grounds contains a visitors’ orientation center and a museum shop, providing context to the lighthouse’s history.
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Boston Light, Massachusetts
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Boston Light, the oldest continually used lighthouse site in the United States, sits on Little Brewster Island in Boston Harbor. Visitors can take a boat tour to the island, climb the tower, and learn about the lighthouse’s role in American history from the nation’s last remaining resident keeper.
St. Augustine Lighthouse, Florida
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The St. Augustine Lighthouse offers visitors a unique blend of history and paranormal intrigue. Guests can climb the 219 steps to the top, explore the keeper’s house museum, and even participate in ghost tours that delve into the lighthouse’s spooky legends.
Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, Florida
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The Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, Florida’s tallest, offers a comprehensive museum complex in addition to tower access. Visitors can explore exhibits on lighthouse life, Fresnel lenses, and maritime history, making it one of the most complete lighthouse experiences in the country.
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Block Island Southeast Lighthouse, Rhode Island
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The Block Island Southeast Lighthouse, a National Historic Landmark, sits atop dramatic clay cliffs on the island’s southeast corner. Visitors can tour the beautifully restored interior and learn about the lighthouse’s famous move back from the eroding bluffs in 1993.
Montauk Point Lighthouse, New York
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The Montauk Point Lighthouse, commissioned by George Washington, stands as the oldest lighthouse in New York State. Visitors can climb the tower, explore the keeper’s house museum, and enjoy the rugged beauty of Long Island’s easternmost point.
Heceta Head Lighthouse, Oregon
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Heceta Head Lighthouse, perched on a scenic headland, is known for having the strongest light on the Oregon coast. Visitors can tour the lighthouse, hike the surrounding trails for stunning coastal views, and even stay overnight in the historic assistant keeper’s house, now operating as a bed and breakfast.
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Key West Lighthouse, Florida
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The Key West Lighthouse offers visitors a chance to explore a piece of Florida Keys history and enjoy panoramic views of the island. The keeper’s quarters have been converted into a museum, showcasing the lives of the keepers and their families who maintained this important beacon.
Point Reyes Lighthouse, California
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The Point Reyes Lighthouse, positioned at one of the windiest and foggiest points on the Pacific Coast, offers a dramatic setting for lighthouse enthusiasts. Visitors must descend 308 steps to reach the lighthouse, where they can learn about its operation and the area’s rich maritime history.
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, Maine
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Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, featured on the Maine state quarter, offers stunning views of the rocky Maine coastline. Visitors can tour the lighthouse tower, explore the fisherman’s museum in the keeper’s house, and examine the unique striated rock formations that make this site so picturesque.
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Cape Lookout Lighthouse, North Carolina
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Cape Lookout Lighthouse, with its distinctive diamond-patterned daymark, stands sentinel over the Southern Outer Banks. Seasonal climbing tours allow visitors to ascend the lighthouse, while the nearby keepers’ quarters house informative exhibits on the area’s maritime history and ecology.
Tybee Island Lighthouse, Georgia
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The Tybee Island Lighthouse, Georgia’s oldest and tallest lighthouse, offers visitors a chance to climb 178 steps to the top for breathtaking views of the coast. The site includes a museum in the keeper’s cottage and several support buildings that paint a vivid picture of lighthouse life.
Peggy’s Point Lighthouse, Nova Scotia, Canada
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While not in the U.S., Peggy’s Point Lighthouse in Nova Scotia is a worthy addition for lighthouse enthusiasts traveling in North America. This iconic red and white lighthouse, one of the most photographed in the world, offers stunning views of the rugged Atlantic coastline and the chance to explore the picturesque fishing village of Peggy’s Cove.
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Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, Michigan
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Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, known as the ‘Castle of the Straits,’ offers panoramic views of the Mackinac Bridge and the Straits of Mackinac. Visitors can tour the restored keeper’s quarters, climb the tower, and explore exhibits on shipwrecks and the lighthouse’s role in Great Lakes maritime history.
Assateague Lighthouse, Virginia
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The Assateague Lighthouse, located within the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, offers not only lighthouse tours but also the chance to spot wild ponies. Visitors can climb to the top of the 142-foot tower for expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding wildlife refuge.
Point Loma Lighthouse, California
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The Old Point Loma Lighthouse, part of Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego, offers visitors a glimpse into the life of a 19th-century lighthouse keeper. While the lighthouse itself is not open for climbing, guests can explore the restored interior and enjoy panoramic views of San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
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Iconic Lighthouses to Explore in the U.S.
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These 20 lighthouse destinations give visitors unique opportunities to explore America’s maritime heritage and enjoy breathtaking coastal scenery. From the rugged shores of Maine to the sun-drenched coast of California, each lighthouse has its own story to tell and distinctive features to discover.
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