This is a list of lighthouses in the United States. The United States has had approximately a thousand lights as well as light towers, range lights, and pier head lights. Michigan has the most lights of any state with over 150 past and present lights. Lighthouses that are in former U.S. territories are not listed here.
Most of the lights in the United States have been built and maintained by the Coast Guard (since 1939) and its predecessors, the United States Lighthouse Service (1910–1939) and the United States Lighthouse Board (1852–1910). Before the Lighthouse Board was established, local collectors of customs were responsible for lighthouses under Stephen Pleasonton. As their importance to navigation has declined and as public interest in them has increased, the Coast Guard has been handing over ownership and in some cases responsibility for running them to other parties, the chief of them being the National Park Service under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000.
Note: Click on the state of your choice in the tables below to link you to lighthouses in that state.
New England
StateTallest (H)Shortest (H)Oldest(currently standing) Maine 133Boon Island Light 020Pond Island Light 1791Portland Head Light(1791) Massachusetts 124Cape Ann Light Disputed 1783Boston Light(1783) New Hampshire 058Isles of Shoals Light 048Portsmouth Harbor Light 1865Isles of Shoals Light(1859) Rhode Island 066Sakonnet Light 013Ida Lewis Rock Light 1831Poplar Point Light(1831) Connecticut 089New London Harbor Light 025Mystic Seaport Light 1801New London Harbor Light(1801) Vermont 040Windmill Point Light 013Whipple Point Light 1846Juniper Island Light(1846)
New Hampshire The state of New Hampshire only has two lighthouses, both of which are located along the Atlantic coastline.
Name Image Location Coordinates Year first lit Automated Year deactivated Current lens Focal height Isles of Shoals Light Isles of Shoals 1859 1987 Active VLB-44 LED unit Portsmouth Harbor Light New Castle 1878 1960 Active Fourth order Fresnel
Vermont Note: All entries here show the current tower's status; more details can be found in the lighthouse articles. NameImage Location Coordinates Year first lit Automated Year deactivated Current lens Focal height Burlington Breakwater North Light Burlington 1857 (original) 2003(current) 2003 (replica) Active 035 Burlington Breakwater South Light Burlington 1857 (original) 2003(current) 2003 (replica) Active 012 Colchester Reef Light Shelburne 1871 Never 1933 None 035 Isle La Motte Light Isle La Motte 1856 (original) 1881(current) 300mm 025 Juniper Island Light South Burlington 1826 (original) 1846(current) Never 1954 None 025 Maxfield Point Light Orleans 1879 None 025 Newport Wharf Light Orleans 1879 None 025 Windmill Point Light Isle La Motte 1830 (iriginal) 1858(current) Active(inactive: 1931–2002) 300 mm 025 Whipple Point Light Orleans 1879 1906 None 025
Mid-Atlantic
StateTallest (H)Shortest (H)Oldest(currently standing) New York 168Fire Island Lighthouse 015Cape Vincent Light 1797Montauk Point Light(1797) New Jersey 171Absecon Light 036Ludlam's Beach Light 1764Sandy Hook Light(1764) Pennsylvania 068Presque Isle Light 030Turtle Rock Light 1857Erie Harbor Light(1857) Delaware 120Liston Range Rear Light 035Cherry Island Light 1858Fenwick Island Light(1858) Maryland 105Craighill Channel L.R.R. 015Craighill Channel U.R.F. 1825Pooles Island Light(1825)
Midwest
StateTallest (H)Shortest (H)Oldest(currently standing) Illinois 113Grosse Point Light 035Waukegan Harbor Light 1873Grosse Point Light(1873) Indiana 055Buffington Breakwater Light 030Gary Breakwater Light 1858Old Michigan City Light(1858) Michigan 124White Shoal Light 025Cheboygan Crib Light 1825Fort Gratiot Light(1825) Minnesota 070Duluth South Breakwater I.L. 034Grand Marais Light 1892Two Harbors Light(1892) Nebraska 100Linoma Lighthouse 055Lake Minatare Light Ohio 161Northwood Light 020Port Clinton Light 1821Marblehead Light(1821) Wisconsin 111Rawley Point Light 021Baileys Harbor Front RL 1853Baileys Harbor Light(1853)
Colorado
StateTallest (H)Shortest (H)Oldest(currently standing) Colorado 055Dillon Reservoir Lighthouse 1873Dillon Reservoir Lighthouse(circa 1963)
The state of Colorado has only one lighthouse, the Dillon Reservoir Lighthouse, also known as the Lake Dillon Lighthouse. It is located in the Dillon Reservoir (also referred to as Lake Dillon) in Summit County, Colorado. Although the exact completion date of the 26-foot tall tower is unknown, it was constructed along with the reservoir itself, which was completed in 1963. The lake is at an elevation of 9017 ft (2748 m), making this the highest elevation lighthouse in the U.S.Colorado's only lighthouse is the highest in the United StatesDillon ReservoirLighthouses of the United States: ColoradoColorado is Home to the Highest Lighthouse in the Country
Nebraska The state of Nebraska has at least two faux lighthouses which were first lit in 1939. There is no evidence that either were used for navigational purposes as the state has no large bodies of water that would require the need. Linoma Lighthouse is located on a privately owned recreation area which was developed around an artificial lake, while Lake Minatare Lighthouse was "built to simulate a lighthouse". Also of note is a faux lighthouse called Rock Garden Lighthouse (not listed below), located in Kearney.Lighthouse and rock garden at Harmon ParkEnglish: Harmon Park
Name Image Location Coordinates Year first lit Automated Year deactivated Current lens Height Linoma Lighthouse Gretna 1939 Always Active Decorative 100 Lake Minatare Lighthouse Scottsbluff 1939 Always Active Decorative 055
Pacific (states)
StateTallest (H)Shortest (H)Oldest(currently standing) Alaska 075Cape Decision Light 020Point Sherman Light 1906Eldred Rock Light(1906) Washington 107Grays Harbor Light 020Turn Point Light 1856Cape Disappointment(1856) Oregon 093Yaquina Head Light 025Warrior Rock Light 1870Cape Blanco Light(1870) California 115Pigeon Point LightPoint Arena Light 020Lime Point Light 1855Point Pinos Light(1855) Hawaii 138Moloka'i Light 022Kuki'i Point Light 1909Moloka'i Light(1909)
South
StateTallest (H)Shortest (H)Oldest(currently standing) Alabama 131Sand Island Light 054Middle Bay Light 1873Sand Island Light(1873) Florida 175Ponce de Leon Light 023Cedar Key Light 1838Amelia Island Light(1838) Georgia 145Tybee Island Light 046Cockspur Island Light 1820Sapelo Island Light(1820) Louisiana 1852New Canal Light(1839) Mississippi 061Biloxi Light 030 Tie 1848Biloxi Light(1848) North Carolina 210Cape Hatteras Light 1817Bald Head Light(1817) South Carolina 161Morris Island Light 018Haig Point F. R. Light 1827Cape Romain Light (Old)(1827) Texas 116Point Bolivar Light 1852Point Isabel Light(1852) Virginia 191Cape Charles Light 1855Deepwater Shoals Light(1855) 1792Cape Henry Lighthouse(1792)
United States territories
TerritoryTallest (H)Shortest (H)Oldest(currently standing) Puerto Rico Punta Higüero Light 69 ft (21 m) Los Morrillos Light Port San Juan Light (1846) American Samoa Breakers Point Light Aunu'u Light Guam Ritidian Point Light Apra Outer Harbor Range Front Light Orote Point Light (1929) Northern Mariana Islands Japanese Light (a.k.a. Garapan Light) (Unknown) Japanese Light (a.k.a. Garapan Light) (1934) Virgin Islands Hams Bluff Light Fort Luise Augusta Light Fort Luise Augusta Light (1919)
United States Minor Outlying Islands
This table lists lighthouses that are in insular areas of the United States. All of the islands listed below are uninhabited, and have not been formerly incorporated into the country.NGA List of Lights – Pub.111 Retrieved November 6, 2016.
Name Image Location Coordinates Year first lit Automated Year deactivated Current lens Height Baker Island Light Baker Island 1935 Never 1942 None 016 Howland Island Light(aka: Earhart Light) Howland Island 1937 Never 1942 None 020 Jarvis Island Light Jarvis Island 1935 Never 1945 None 016 Navassa Island Light Navassa Island 1917 1929 1996 None 161 Sand Island Aviation Light Midway Atoll Active 046 Wake Island Aviation Light Wake Island Active 052
See also
List of lighthouses in the United States by height List of lightships of the United States Lists of lighthouses National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act United States Lighthouse Society United States Coast Guard History and Heritage Sites
Further reading Crompton, Samuel Willard & Michael J. Rhein, The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses (2002) ; . Hyde, Charles K., and Ann and John Mahan. The Northern Lights: Lighthouses of the Upper Great Lakes. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1995. . Jones, Ray & Bruce Roberts, American Lighthouses (Globe Pequot, September 1, 1998, 1st Ed.) ; . Jones, Ray,The Lighthouse Encyclopedia, The Definitive Reference (Globe Pequot, January 1, 2004, 1st ed.) ; . Noble, Dennis, Lighthouses & Keepers: U. S. Lighthouse Service and Its Legacy Annapolis: U. S. Naval Institute Press, 1997. ; . Oleszewski, Wes, Great Lakes Lighthouses, American and Canadian: A Comprehensive Directory/Guide to Great Lakes Lighthouses, (Gwinn, Michigan: Avery Color Studios, Inc., 1998) . Penrod, John, Lighthouses of Michigan, (Berrien Center, Michigan: Penrod/Hiawatha, 1998) . Penrose, Laurie and Bill, A Traveler's Guide to 116 Michigan Lighthouses (Petoskey, Michigan: Friede Publications, 1999).
Putnam, George R., Lighthouses and Lightships of the United States, (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1933). Roach, Jerry, Ultimate Guide to Great Lakes Lighthouses, (2003). Thurston, Harry, Against Darkness and Storm: Lighthouses of the Northeast (Halifax: Nimbus, 1993). United States Coast Guard, Aids to Navigation, (Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1945).
U.S. Coast Guard, Historically Famous Lighthouses (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1957).
Wagner, John L., Michigan Lighthouses: An Aerial Photographic Perspective, (East Lansing, Michigan: John L. Wagner, 1998) . Weiss, George, The Lighthouse Service, Its History, Activities and Organization (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1926). Wright, Larry and Wright, Patricia, Great Lakes Lighthouses Encyclopedia Hardback (Erin: Boston Mills Press, 2006) .
Notes A. The shortest lighthouse in Massachusetts is either Palmer Island Light at or Brant Point Light at . Sources remain split on this issue, with at least one claiming the latter as the shortest in New England. B. The Perry Monument in Ohio and the Statue of Liberty in New York City are not classified as lighthouses. They would come in as the two tallest lighthouses in the United States otherwise. C. Minnesota Point Light was built in 1858, but only half of the now ruined tower remains. D. The oldest light station is Pottawatomie Light which was established in 1836; however, the current buildings date to 1858. E. The shortest height is for a skeletal tower which was placed in 1981. For "traditional" lighthouses, Point Retreat Light and Cape Spencer Light are tied at each. F. These two lighthouses are tied at each. G. The oldest lighthouse in Hawaii was called "Lahaina Lighthouse", which was built in 1905 before it was replaced. Moloka'i Light is the oldest currently standing lighthouse; it was first lit a month before the still standing Makapuu Point Light. H. Pass A L'Outre Light was originally constructed in 1852 elsewhere and moved to its present location. I. Cat Island Light (first tower), Pass Christian Light, and Ship Island Light were all 30 feet tall.
References
External links General Lighthouses in the National Park System
Lighthouse Friends a comprehensive international listing maintained by Russ Rowlett Inventory of Historic Light Stations from the National Park Service Interactive map of lighthouses all over the country Lighthouses in the National Park System Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society (ARLHS) U.S. LIGHTHOUSES BY STATE