Lighthouse Directory — New England Lighthouse Lovers

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Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Portland Head Light

One of the most photographed lighthouses in the United States, commissioned by President George Washington. It stands at the entrance to Portland Harbor and remains an enduring symbol of New England's maritime heritage.

Est. 1791Height: 80 ft

Visitor Info: Open year-round. Museum on site.

Active

York, Maine

Nubble Light

Perched on a small rocky island just off Cape Neddick, Nubble Light is one of Maine's most beloved and photographed lighthouses. Its classic white tower and red-roofed keeper's house make it instantly recognizable.

Est. 1879Height: 41 ft

Visitor Info: Viewable from Sohier Park. No public access to island.

Active

Bristol, Maine

Pemaquid Point Light

Standing on dramatically striated granite ledges, Pemaquid Point Light is one of Maine's most scenic lighthouses. The keeper's house now serves as the Fishermen's Museum, celebrating the region's fishing heritage.

Est. 1827Height: 38 ft

Visitor Info: Open seasonally. Museum and grounds accessible.

Active

Nantucket, Massachusetts

Brant Point Light

The second lighthouse built in the United States, Brant Point Light guards the entrance to Nantucket Harbor. Its small white tower is a beloved symbol of the island, and it's a tradition to toss a penny overboard when departing Nantucket.

Est. 1746Height: 26 ft

Visitor Info: Viewable from the ferry. Grounds accessible.

Active

Truro, Massachusetts

Highland Light

The oldest and tallest lighthouse on Cape Cod, Highland Light (also known as Cape Cod Light) stands on the high clay cliffs of Truro. It was famously moved 450 feet inland in 1996 to protect it from coastal erosion.

Est. 1797Height: 66 ft

Visitor Info: Open for tours in summer. Admission charged.

Active

Provincetown, Massachusetts

Race Point Light

Located at the tip of Cape Cod in the Cape Cod National Seashore, Race Point Light is accessible only by foot or off-road vehicle. Its remote setting makes it a favorite destination for lighthouse enthusiasts seeking solitude.

Est. 1816Height: 45 ft

Visitor Info: Accessible via 1.5-mile walk or 4WD. Overnight stays available.

Active

New Castle, New Hampshire

Portsmouth Harbor Light

One of the oldest lighthouse sites in the United States, Portsmouth Harbor Light has guided vessels into the Piscataqua River since colonial times. The current cast-iron tower, erected in 1877, stands within Fort Constitution Historic Site and offers sweeping views of the harbor.

Est. 1771Height: 48 ft

Visitor Info: Grounds open daily via Fort Constitution. Tower open on select dates.

Isle of Shoals (White Island) Lighthouse

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Isle of Shoals, New Hampshire

Isle of Shoals (White Island) Lighthouse

Perched on White Island at the Isle of Shoals, this remote lighthouse has guided mariners through the rocky offshore islands since 1821. The current granite tower, built in 1859, rises dramatically from the wave-swept ledges and remains one of New Hampshire's most iconic maritime landmarks.

Est. 1821Height: 58 ft

Visitor Info: Accessible by seasonal ferry from Portsmouth. No public landing on White Island.

Inactive

Sunapee, New Hampshire

Burkehaven Lighthouse

Standing on the western shore of Lake Sunapee, Burkehaven Lighthouse is one of New Hampshire's few inland lighthouses. Built in 1893 to guide steamboat traffic on the lake, the small wooden structure is a charming reminder of the era when Lake Sunapee was a bustling resort destination.

Est. 1893Height: 20 ft

Visitor Info: Best viewed by boat on Lake Sunapee. Private property — no public access.

Active

Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire

Loon Island Lighthouse

Situated on a small island in the middle of Lake Sunapee, Loon Island Lighthouse has marked the lake's hazards since 1893. The picturesque wooden lighthouse and keeper's cottage were restored by the Lake Sunapee Protective Association and remain an active aid to navigation for boaters.

Est. 1893Height: 25 ft

Visitor Info: Best viewed by boat on Lake Sunapee. Seasonal tours available through the Lake Sunapee Protective Association.

Inactive

Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire

Herrick Cove Lighthouse

One of three lighthouses built on Lake Sunapee in 1893 to support the lake's thriving steamboat trade, Herrick Cove Lighthouse guided vessels into the sheltered cove on the lake's eastern shore. Though no longer active, it stands as a quiet testament to New Hampshire's inland maritime heritage.

Est. 1893Height: 20 ft

Visitor Info: Best viewed by boat on Lake Sunapee. Private property — no public access.

Active

Narragansett, Rhode Island

Point Judith Light

Guarding the treacherous waters at the mouth of Narragansett Bay, Point Judith Light has warned mariners away from the rocky shoals since 1816. The current octagonal brownstone tower, built in 1857, is one of the most recognizable sentinels on the Rhode Island coast.

Est. 1816Height: 51 ft

Visitor Info: Grounds open daily. Tower interior not open to public.

Active

Warwick, Rhode Island

Conimicut Lighthouse

Standing at the northern end of Narragansett Bay near the mouth of the Providence River, Conimicut Lighthouse is a cast-iron spark plug-style lighthouse built in 1868. It marks the dangerous Conimicut Shoal and remains an active aid to navigation.

Est. 1868Height: 58 ft

Visitor Info: Accessible by boat only. Best viewed from shore in Warwick.

Active

East Providence, Rhode Island

Pomham Rocks Lighthouse

Perched on a small rocky island in the Providence River, Pomham Rocks Lighthouse was built in 1871 to guide vessels navigating the upper reaches of Narragansett Bay. The Victorian-style keeper's dwelling with an integrated tower has been lovingly restored by local preservationists.

Est. 1871Height: 40 ft

Visitor Info: Accessible by boat only. Restoration tours offered on select dates.

Active

Newport, Rhode Island

Castle Hill Lighthouse

Sitting on a granite outcropping at the entrance to Narragansett Bay in Newport, Castle Hill Lighthouse was built in 1890 to guide vessels through the East Passage. The squat, conical granite tower is one of Rhode Island's most photographed lighthouses, set against the dramatic rocky shoreline of Castle Hill Cove.

Est. 1890Height: 34 ft

Visitor Info: Accessible via the grounds of Castle Hill Inn. Best viewed from the rocky shore path.

Active

Little Compton, Rhode Island

Sakonnet Lighthouse

Marking the entrance to the Sakonnet River on the eastern shore of Rhode Island Sound, Sakonnet Lighthouse is a cast-iron spark plug tower completed in 1884. After years of neglect, it was beautifully restored through community fundraising efforts and relighted in 2007.

Est. 1884Height: 66 ft

Visitor Info: Accessible by boat only. Best viewed from Sakonnet Point in Little Compton.

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Jamestown, Rhode Island

Beavertail Lighthouse

One of the oldest lighthouse sites in the United States, Beavertail Light at the southern tip of Conanicut Island has guided ships into Narragansett Bay since 1749. The current granite tower, built in 1856, stands within Beavertail State Park and houses a small museum in the former keeper's quarters.

Est. 1749Height: 64 ft

Visitor Info: Beavertail State Park open daily. Museum open seasonally in summer.

Inactive

Isle La Motte, Vermont

Isle La Motte Lighthouse

Situated on the northern tip of Isle La Motte in Lake Champlain, this modest stone lighthouse is one of Vermont's few remaining lake lights. Built to guide vessels through the narrow Alburg Passage, it stands as a quiet reminder of the lake's once-busy commercial shipping era.

Est. 1829Height: 25 ft

Visitor Info: Viewable by boat or from the island's northern shore. Private property — no trespassing.

Active

Alburgh, Vermont

Windmill Point Lighthouse

The northernmost lighthouse on Lake Champlain, Windmill Point Light marks the channel near the Alburgh peninsula. The original private beacon dates to 1830; the current octagonal blue limestone tower was erected in 1858 by the Lighthouse Service. Extinguished in 1931, it was reactivated in 2002 with a solar-powered beacon — the first of several such restorations on the lake.

Est. 1858Height: 40 ft

Visitor Info: Privately owned. Viewable from the water or from Windmill Point Road.

Active

Burlington, Vermont

Burlington Breakwater South Light

Perched at the southern end of Burlington's long breakwater on Lake Champlain, this small red cast-iron lighthouse has guided vessels into Burlington Harbor since the mid-19th century. The current conical tower replaced an earlier structure and remains an active aid to navigation, its red light visible across the broad lake.

Est. 1857Height: 28 ft

Visitor Info: Accessible on foot via the Burlington Bike Path along the breakwater. No interior access.

Active

Burlington, Vermont

Burlington Breakwater North Light

Standing at the northern tip of Burlington's breakwater, this small white lighthouse works in tandem with its southern counterpart to mark the entrance to Burlington Harbor. Together the two breakwater lights frame one of the most scenic harbor approaches on Lake Champlain, with the Green Mountains rising behind the city.

Est. 1865Height: 22 ft

Visitor Info: Accessible on foot via the Burlington Bike Path along the breakwater. No interior access.

Inactive

Juniper Island, Vermont

Juniper Island Lighthouse

The oldest light station on Lake Champlain and the oldest surviving cast-iron lighthouse in the United States, Juniper Island Light sits on a small island west of Burlington. The current cylindrical cast-iron tower was built in 1846 and fitted with a fourth-order Fresnel lens in 1853. Deactivated in 1954, the island passed into private hands and the keeper's house — destroyed by fire in 1962 — was reconstructed in 2001.

Est. 1826Height: 25 ft

Visitor Info: Private island. Viewable by boat from Burlington Harbor.

Inactive

Shelburne, Vermont (originally Colchester Point)

Colchester Reef Light

Originally anchored on a granite pier off Colchester Point to warn ships away from the Middle Bunch Reef, this French Second Empire–style lighthouse is one of Lake Champlain's most distinctive. Decommissioned in 1933, it was rescued from demolition in 1952 by museum founder Electra Havemeyer Webb and carefully relocated to the grounds of the Shelburne Museum, where it stands today as a fully preserved exhibit.

Est. 1871Height: 35 ft

Visitor Info: On display at the Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, VT. Open seasonally. Admission charged.

Inactive

Crown Point, New York

Champlain Memorial Lighthouse

Built in 1858 on the New York shore of Lake Champlain near the Vermont border, this lighthouse was dramatically transformed in 1912 into a memorial to explorer Samuel de Champlain. The original stone tower was rebuilt as a classical colonnade with Doric columns, and a monumental bronze sculpture by Carl Augustus Heber — accompanied by a plaque from Auguste Rodin — was added to mark the tercentenary of Champlain's exploration of the lake. Deactivated in 1926, it remains a striking landmark on the Crown Point peninsula.

Est. 1858Height: 55 ft

Visitor Info: Located within Crown Point State Historic Site, Crown Point, NY. Grounds open year-round. Free admission.

Active

New London, Connecticut

New London Ledge Light

One of the most unusual lighthouses in New England, New London Ledge Light sits on a concrete pier in the Thames River. Its French Second Empire architecture — complete with mansard roof — makes it unlike any other lighthouse in the region.

Est. 1909Height: 58 ft

Visitor Info: Viewable by boat. Tours available seasonally.

Active

Cape Porpoise, Maine

Goat Island Lighthouse

Perched on a small island at the entrance to Cape Porpoise Harbor, Goat Island Lighthouse has guided lobster boats and coastal vessels since 1835. The current white brick tower, built in 1859, stands alongside a restored keeper's house and is maintained by the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust.

Est. 1835Height: 38 ft

Visitor Info: Accessible by kayak or boat. Grounds open to visitors. No overnight access.

Active

Port Clyde, Maine

Marshall Point Lighthouse

One of Maine's most recognizable lighthouses, Marshall Point Light guards the entrance to Port Clyde Harbor on the St. George Peninsula. Famous for its distinctive wooden walkway connecting the shore to the tower, it gained national attention as the turnaround point in the film Forrest Gump. The keeper's house now serves as a museum.

Est. 1832Height: 31 ft

Visitor Info: Museum open seasonally. Grounds and walkway accessible year-round.

Active

Cutler, Maine

Little River Lighthouse

Situated on a small island at the mouth of Little River in the remote Downeast region, Little River Lighthouse marks the entrance to Cutler Harbor. Deactivated in 1975, it was relighted in 2002 after a major restoration effort by the American Lighthouse Foundation. Overnight stays in the restored keeper's house are available through the foundation.

Est. 1847Height: 35 ft

Visitor Info: Accessible by boat only. Overnight stays available through the American Lighthouse Foundation.

Active

Plymouth, Massachusetts

Plymouth (Gurnet) Lighthouse

One of the oldest lighthouse sites in the United States, the Gurnet Light stands on a narrow peninsula at the entrance to Plymouth Harbor. The original twin lights date to 1768, making it one of the first lighthouses built in the American colonies. The current single wooden tower, rebuilt in 1843, is maintained by the Gurnet and Duxbury Lighthouse Committee and remains an active aid to navigation.

Est. 1768Height: 39 ft

Visitor Info: Accessible by boat or a long walk along Duxbury Beach. Open for tours on select dates.

Active

Boston Harbor, Massachusetts

Graves Lighthouse

Standing on a rocky ledge at the outermost reach of Boston Harbor, Graves Lighthouse is one of the most impressive granite towers in New England. Built in 1905 to mark the dangerous Graves Ledge, its 113-foot tower was constructed from massive interlocking granite blocks designed to withstand the fierce Atlantic storms that batter this exposed location.

Est. 1905Height: 113 ft

Visitor Info: Accessible by boat only. Private ownership — no public access to the island.

Active

Baker Island, Massachusetts

Baker Island Lighthouse

Situated on a small island off the coast of Manchester-by-the-Sea in Essex County, Baker Island Lighthouse has guided vessels through the rocky approaches to Salem Sound since 1791. The current granite tower, built in 1820, stands on an island that was once home to a small summer community and is now managed by the National Park Service as part of the Salem Maritime National Historic Site.

Est. 1791Height: 43 ft

Visitor Info: Accessible by boat via seasonal ferry from Salem. Part of Salem Maritime National Historic Site.

Inactive

Norwalk, Connecticut

Sheffield Island Lighthouse

Standing on a small island in the Norwalk Islands chain, Sheffield Island Lighthouse is a handsome Gothic Revival stone structure built in 1868. Decommissioned in 1902 when Green's Ledge Light took over its duties, the lighthouse was saved from demolition and is now owned by the Norwalk Seaport Association, which offers seasonal ferry tours to the island.

Est. 1828Height: 44 ft

Visitor Info: Accessible by seasonal ferry from Norwalk. Tours offered by the Norwalk Seaport Association.

Active

Groton, Connecticut

Avery Point Light

One of the newest lighthouses in New England, Avery Point Light was built in 1943 on the grounds of what is now the University of Connecticut's Avery Point campus. The octagonal Art Deco-style tower fell into disrepair after being decommissioned, but was beautifully restored by a local preservation group and relighted in 2006.

Est. 1943Height: 55 ft

Visitor Info: Located on the UConn Avery Point campus. Grounds open to the public. No interior access.

Inactive

Stonington, Connecticut

Stonington Lighthouse Museum

The Old Stonington Lighthouse, built in 1823 and replaced in 1840, is one of Connecticut's most historic maritime landmarks. Decommissioned in 1889, the granite tower and keeper's house now serve as the Stonington Lighthouse Museum, operated by the Stonington Historical Society and housing exhibits on local maritime and whaling history.

Est. 1823Height: 35 ft

Visitor Info: Open as a museum seasonally. Admission charged. Located in the village of Stonington Borough.

Active

Norwalk, Connecticut

Green's Ledge Lighthouse

A classic spark plug-style cast-iron lighthouse, Green's Ledge Light has marked the western entrance to Norwalk Harbor since 1902. The cylindrical tower sits on a concrete pier in Long Island Sound and replaced the earlier Sheffield Island Light. It was recently restored by the Green's Ledge Light Association and remains an active aid to navigation.

Est. 1902Height: 52 ft

Visitor Info: Accessible by boat only. Occasional tours offered by the Green's Ledge Light Association.

Active

Fairfield, Connecticut

Penfield Reef Lighthouse

Rising from a dangerous reef off the coast of Fairfield, Penfield Reef Lighthouse is one of Long Island Sound's most storied sentinels. The Second Empire-style granite structure, completed in 1874, is famous for its ghost legend — the spirit of keeper Frederick Jordan, who drowned rowing to shore in 1916, is said to still haunt the tower. It remains an active aid to navigation.

Est. 1874Height: 51 ft

Visitor Info: Accessible by boat only. Best viewed from Fairfield Beach or by kayak.

New England's Iconic Lights

Portland Head Light

Nubble Light

Pemaquid Point Light

Brant Point Light

Highland Light

Race Point Light

Portsmouth Harbor Light

Isle of Shoals (White Island) Lighthouse

Burkehaven Lighthouse

Loon Island Lighthouse

Herrick Cove Lighthouse

Point Judith Light

Conimicut Lighthouse

Pomham Rocks Lighthouse

Castle Hill Lighthouse

Sakonnet Lighthouse

Beavertail Lighthouse

Isle La Motte Lighthouse

Windmill Point Lighthouse

Burlington Breakwater South Light

Burlington Breakwater North Light

Juniper Island Lighthouse

Colchester Reef Light

Champlain Memorial Lighthouse

New London Ledge Light

Goat Island Lighthouse

Marshall Point Lighthouse

Little River Lighthouse

Plymouth (Gurnet) Lighthouse

Graves Lighthouse

Baker Island Lighthouse

Sheffield Island Lighthouse

Avery Point Light

Stonington Lighthouse Museum

Green's Ledge Lighthouse

Penfield Reef Lighthouse

Know a Lighthouse We're Missing?