With over 150 lighthouses in the six states of New England, those visiting these northeastern states should take the opportunity to visit at least one. For hundreds of years, lighthouses have warned ships that they were approaching land. In the dark waters of the Atlantic Ocean, sometimes nighttime sailors would wreck their ships as they approached the rocky coast. Lighthouses prevented innumerable tragedies, and now stand as literal beacons of light and history. All of New England’s lighthouses have been automated now, but in days of yore, a keeper resided in the lighthouse or in a nearby home to flash the light throughout the night to keep ships safe from harm. If you plan on visiting New England anytime soon, or if you live there but haven’t taken advantage of these icons of early American history, here is our list of must see lighthouses in New England. October is a great time to visit New England. You can enjoy the lighthouses and witness dynamic colors come to life during the fall foliage season.
-
Portland Head Lighthouse, Cape Elizabeth, Maine (Pictured below.) Standing just over 100 feet tall on the craggy coast of Cape Elizabeth is the Portland Head Lighthouse. Built in 1791 of stone and brick, the original tower is still standing, along with the keeper’s house, built in 1891; the oil house, also built in 1891; and the reconstructed fog signal building, which was built in 1975. You can’t actually go into the lighthouse, but you can visit the museum in the keeper’s house each day between Memorial Day and October 31 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. In November and December, as well as during the second half of April, the museum is open on weekends only, and it’s closed from late December through mid-April. Parking is free, and admission is $2.
-
Nubble Lighthouse, York Beach, Maine (Pictured above,) The Nubble Lighthouse sits on a small “nub” of an island just 300 feet from the coast of York Beach. Because the coastline and tiny islands are so rocky in this part of Maine, there were many shipwrecks before the lighthouse was built in 1879. The lighthouse itself is closed to the public, but occasionally tours are given. Since it’s so close to the coastline, though, you can go to Sohier Park in York, Maine, and view it easily.
-
New London Ledge Lighthouse, Groton, Connecticut The New London Ledge Lighthouse is one of the more unusual-looking lighthouses in the country. It is a striking, square building, with a height of only about 58 feet, and is located at the mouth of the Thames River off the coast of Groton. When it was built, in 1909, the area residents wanted a lighthouse that would look as though it complemented the large, historic homes in the area. You can see the lighthouse from any boat in the area. If you want to go in, you can participate in Project O at Avery Point in Groton, where you can take a tour and roam around the building. There was talk of selling the lighthouse earlier in 2013, so be sure to call and get the status on whether tours are still running before heading out to Groton.
These are just a few of the beautiful lighthouses in New England. No matter where you go along the New England coast, though, you’re sure to find more history and amazing architecture as you explore the old lighthouses in the region. If you enjoying season the change of seasons, consider a fall foliage tour of cruise in late September or early October.
New England’s lighthouses are part of what makes the region so enchanting. For a full guide to the area’s highlights, see New England Towns You Should Visit.
