Photo by Sean Pavone at Shutterstock
No matter where you choose to travel in our beautiful country, be it along the shores of the Great Lakes or through the coastal regions, you’ll surely come upon some of the most stunning US lighthouses that have captured the imagination of sailors and landlubbers alike for many generations.
From the sun-kissed shores of Florida to the rugged coasts of Maine to the isolated wilderness of Alaska, our nation’s lighthouses shine a light on a very rich maritime history, the architectural and artistic inspiration behind them, and some of the most breathtaking natural scenery the US has to offer.
Each of the lighthouses we’ve chosen for our list was chosen based on specific criteria, but primarily for the beauty of the structures, including their architecture. We’ve taken into account features like crenelated tops, winding staircases, and multi-prismed light.
But natural surroundings have also been considered. So many of the places you’ll see on our list are often set against dazzling, rugged cliffs and ocean waves.
The best part? All are open to the public for tours. So what are we waiting for? Check out the top 8 most beautiful US lighthouses and start planning your adventure to visit these remarkable beacons of light.
Many folks associate lighthouses with Maine as our most northerly Atlantic-touching state. And in fact, it does boast 65 lighthouses along its beautiful 3,500-mile shoreline.
But out of those 65, Pemaquid Point Lighthouse makes our list because Edward Hopper painted it and shows up on the state quarter, with stylized lines beaming out from its beacon to a three-masted schooner underneath.
Constructed in 1835, this modest-sized 38-foot US lighthouse sits on a slanted rock with picturesque ledges that have been carved out by the sea. It’s an active navigation aid owned by the US Coast Guard and licensed to the American Lighthouse Foundation.
While here, you can climb 30 steps to the top and then visit the Fishermen’s Museum in the nearby lightkeeper’s house. This US lighthouse is open daily throughout summer and fall.
There’s a small fee to enter the park and a suggested donation to climb the tower. But it shouldn’t be more than $5.
Back in its heyday, this was one of the most well-known lighthouses on the North American Atlantic Coast. In the turbulent water below this US lighthouse, the Gulf Stream collides with the Virginia Drift, creating a treacherous current.
The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is also renowned as the caretaker of the Graveyard of the Atlantic. All in all, this structure is a stunning piece of architecture with a bright red brick base and bold stripes running up its tower.
The Rose Island Lighthouse, a charming, squat US lighthouse roosted on a rocky bluff, spells “New England.” You can even spend the night inside if visiting from April through October.
Otherwise, you can just come for a spring or summer daytime visit. You’ll be able to access the lighthouse island via the Jamestown Newport Ferry, kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddle board.
If you’re an overnighter, transportation on the boat Rose will be included in your stay. The island is also home to the Fort Hamilton barracks, the Navy Torpedo Station ruins, a perimeter trail, beaches and tidal pools, and excellent bird watching.
Dating back to 1870, this US lighthouse isn’t officially in service anymore because the Newport Pell Bridge now holds all navigation aids.
Still, since its establishment as a museum in 1993, it beams a 48-foot beacon out onto Narragansett Bay and is a private aid to navigation. The structure even looks as it once did from 1910 to 1918 when a little child lived there with his lightkeeper grandfather.
If you choose to visit the Eldred Rock Lighthouse, You’ll notice that it looks like something from a Disney movie or fairy tale!
It’s located on a small island with a panoramic backdrop of Alaska’s rugged mountains. This US lighthouse was set on Eldred Rock after a catastrophic ship crash. Like many early northern lighthouses, it’s short and wide.
A graceful roundhouse is built around the octagonal tower. This structure definitely deserves a spot on ANY list of the most beautiful lighthouses in the US.
The 115-foot Pigeon Point US Lighthouse is the most elevated on the West Coast and one of the tallest in the entire nation. It’s still operational with an automated LED beacon rather than a Fresnel lens, which is on view in the nearby Fog Signal Building.
It directs mariners from its spot on the coast 50 miles south of San Francisco. Officially termed the Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park, it’s a fantastic vantage point from which you can see harbor seals and whales seasonally.
Right now, scaffolding covers the tower as part of a restoration program that was delayed by the pandemic and the 2020 wildfires. Still, the Fog Signal Building is open, and there are many activities you can do without accessing the tower stairs.
The state’s oldest and tallest US lighthouse is on Tybee Island and still operates today as a navigational aid. The tower rises 145 feet tall and has 178 steps. But don’t let that stop you.
There’s a window and resting platform every 25 steps. Interestingly, each step was positioned individually and rotated into position. Constructed in 1773 and rebuilt in 1867, this is one of the oldest lighthouses on our list, and many historical structures can be explored on its grounds.
The Fresnel lens, still in place and large enough to hold up to four people, can be noticed from 18 miles out at sea. In the 1700s, a pirate flag flew here, and today, you’ll still see one there, along with six others.
Lighthouse admission includes the Tybee Museum in Battery Garland, a historical gun battery at a coastal fort.
Ohio’s Toledo Harbor Lighthouse humbly protects vessels along the coast of Lake Erie. It was constructed in 1837 as a replacement for an old lighthouse at the jaws of the Maumee River.
And nowadays, it still helps ships stay safe and on course during their travels! This US lighthouse is frequently said to look like a gingerbread house, and you’ll probably agree if you choose to visit!
The distinctive construction of this lighthouse doesn’t look much like the typical slender lighthouse of the seacoast.
Instead, it seems like a strange fairytale structure due to its square build and stout rooftops. A visit to this picturesque and charming lighthouse in will surely give you an unforgettable experience.
Picturesquely ingrained midway up a dramatic oceanside slant, the Heceta Head Lighthouse dates all the way back to 1894 and rises 205 feet above the waves.
A whopping 56 feet of that is the lighthouse tower. Its Fresnel light tosses beams 21 miles out, which happens to be the brightest light on the Oregon coast.
Some folks say that this is the most photographed lighthouse in America. You can go into the structure’s ground floor, then take an outdoor hiking trail that leads up to the tower’s height so you can see the Fresnel lantern at a bird’s eye view.
You can also stay overnight in the lightkeeper’s cottage, now transformed into a Bed and Breakfast with a seven-course breakfast that’s within walking distance to this US lighthouse and the beach below.
So be sure to pack a comfy pair of walking shoes for this one!
So what do you think of these stunning US lighthouses? Have you ever visited any of them? Be sure to share your experiences with Must See Places in the comments section below.
But don’t leave yet! If you liked this article, we highly recommend also reading: 7 Incredible US UNESCO World Heritage Sites to See in Your Lifetime
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