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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.
State | Tallest[1] (H) | Shortest[1] (H) | Oldest[2] (currently standing) |
---|---|---|---|
Maine | Boon Island Light 133 ft (41 m) |
Pond Island Light 20 ft (6.1 m) |
Portland Head Light (1791)[3] |
Massachusetts | Cape Ann Light 124 ft (38 m) |
DisputedA | Boston Light (1783)[4] |
New Hampshire | Isles of Shoals Light 58 ft (18 m) |
Portsmouth Harbor Light 48 ft (15 m) |
(1859)[5] | Isles of Shoals Light
Rhode Island | Sakonnet Light 66 ft (20 m) |
Ida Lewis Rock Light 13 ft (4.0 m) |
Poplar Point Light (1831)[6] |
Connecticut | New London Harbor Light 89 ft (27 m)[7] |
Mystic Seaport Light 25 ft (7.6 m) |
(1801)[7] | New London Harbor Light
Vermont | Windmill Point Light 40 ft (12 m) |
Whipple Point Light 13 ft (4.0 m) |
Juniper Island Light (1846)[2] |
The state of New Hampshire only has two lighthouses, both of which are located along the Atlantic coastline.[8]
Name | Image | Location | Coordinates | Year first lit | Automated | Year deactivated | Current lens | Focal height |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Isles of Shoals Light | Isles of Shoals | 42°58′02″N 70°37′23″W | 1859 | 1987 | Active | VLB-44 LED unit | 82 ft (25 m) | |
Portsmouth Harbor Light | New Castle | 43°04′15″N 70°42′30″W | 1878 | 1960 | Active | Fourth order Fresnel | 48 ft (15 m) |
Name | Image | Location | Coordinates | Year first lit | Automated | Year deactivated | Current lens | Focal height |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Burlington Breakwater North Light | Burlington | 44°28′50″N 73°13′47.2″W | 1857 (Original) 2003 (current) |
2003 (Replica) |
Active | Unknown | 35 ft (11 m) | |
Burlington Breakwater South Light | Burlington | 44°28′12.1″N 73°13′32.4″W | 1857 (Original) 2003 (current) |
2003 (Replica) |
Active | Unknown | 12 ft (3.7 m) | |
Colchester Reef Light | Shelburne | 44.3753°N 73.2314°W | 1871 | Never | 1933 | None | 35 ft (11 m) | |
Isle La Motte Light | Isle La Motte | 44.9065°N 73.3435°W | 1856 (Original) 1881 (current) |
Unknown | Unknown | 300mm | 25 ft (7.6 m) | |
Juniper Island Light | South Burlington | 44.4500°N 73.2763°W | 1826 (Original) 1846 (current) |
Never | 1954 | None | 25 ft (7.6 m) | |
Maxfield Point Light | — | Orleans | Unknown | 1879 | Unknown | Unknown | None | 40 ft (12 m) |
Newport Wharf Light | — | Orleans | Unknown | 1879 | Unknown | Unknown | None | 37 ft (11 m) |
Windmill Point Light | Isle La Motte | 44.9818°N 73.3418°W | 1830 (Original) 1858 (current) |
Unknown | Active (Inactive: 1931–2002) |
300 mm | 40 ft (12 m) | |
Whipple Point Light | — | Orleans | Unknown | 1879 | Unknown | 1906 | None | 25 ft (7.6 m) |
State | Tallest[1] (H) | Shortest[1] (H) | Oldest (currently standing) |
---|---|---|---|
New York | Fire Island Lighthouse 168 ft (51 m)[10]B |
Cape Vincent Light 15 ft (4.6 m) |
Montauk Point Light (1797)[11] |
New Jersey | Absecon Light 171 ft (52 m)[12] |
Ludlam's Beach Light 36 ft (11 m) |
Sandy Hook Light (1764)[13] |
Pennsylvania | Presque Isle Light 68 ft (21 m) |
Turtle Rock Light 30 ft (9.1 m) |
Erie Harbor Light (1857) |
Delaware | Liston Range Rear Light 120 ft (37 m)[14] |
Cherry Island Light 35 ft (11 m) |
Fenwick Island Light (1858)[15] |
Maryland | Craighill Channel L.R.R. 105 ft (32 m)[16] |
Craighill Channel U.R.F. 15 ft (4.6 m)[17] |
Pooles Island Light (1825)[18] |
State | Tallest[1] (H) | Shortest[1] (H) | Oldest (currently standing) |
---|---|---|---|
Colorado | 26 ft (7.9 m) |
Dillon Reservoir Lighthouse— | (circa 1963) | Dillon Reservoir Lighthouse
Illinois | Grosse Point Light 113 ft (34 m) |
Waukegan Harbor Light 35 ft (11 m) |
(1873) | Grosse Point Light
Indiana | 55 ft (17 m) |
Buffington Breakwater Light30 ft (9.1 m) |
Gary Breakwater LightOld Michigan City Light (1858)[20] |
Michigan | White Shoal Light 121 ft (37 m) |
Cheboygan Crib Light 25 ft (7.6 m) |
Fort Gratiot Light (1825)[21] |
Minnesota | Duluth South Breakwater I.L. 70 ft (21 m) |
Grand Marais Light 34 ft (10 m) |
Two Harbors Light (1892)[22]C |
Nebraska | Linoma Lighthouse 100 ft (30 m) |
Lake Minatare Light 55 ft (17 m) |
— |
Ohio | Northwood Light 161 ft (49 m)[23] |
Port Clinton Light 20 ft (6.1 m) |
Marblehead Light (1821)[24] |
Wisconsin | Rawley Point Light 111 ft (34 m) |
Baileys Harbor Front RL 21 ft (6.4 m)[25] |
Baileys Harbor Light (1853)D |
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.[26][27][28][29]
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.[30][31]
Name | Image | Location | Coordinates | Year first lit | Automated | Year deactivated | Current Lens | Height |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Linoma Lighthouse | Gretna | 41°3′44″N 96°19′8″W | 1939 | Always | Active | Decorative | 100 ft (30 m) | |
Lake Minatare Lighthouse | Scottsbluff | 41°55′50″N 103°30′05″W | 1939 | Always | Active | Decorative | 55 ft (17 m) |
State | Tallest[1] (H) | Shortest[1] (H) | Oldest (currently standing) |
---|---|---|---|
Alaska | Cape Decision Light 75 ft (23 m) |
Point Sherman Light 20 ft (6.1 m)E |
Eldred Rock Light (1906)[33] |
Washington | Grays Harbor Light 107 ft (33 m) |
Turn Point Light 20 ft (6.1 m) |
Cape Disappointment (1856) |
Oregon | Yaquina Head Light 93 ft (28 m)[34] |
Warrior Rock Light 25 ft (7.6 m) |
Cape Blanco Light (1870) |
California | Pigeon Point Light Point Arena Light 115 ft (35 m)F |
Lime Point Light 20 ft (6.1 m) |
Point Pinos Light (1855) |
Hawaii | Moloka'i Light 138 ft (42 m) |
22 ft (6.7 m) |
Kuki'i Point LightMoloka'i Light (1909)G |
State | Tallest[1] (H) | Shortest[1] (H) | Oldest (currently standing) |
---|---|---|---|
Alabama | Sand Island Light 131 ft (40 m)[35] |
Middle Bay Light 54 ft (16 m)[36] |
(1873) | Sand Island Light
Florida | Ponce de Leon Light 175 ft (53 m) |
Cedar Key Light 23 ft (7.0 m)[37] |
Amelia Island Light (1838) |
Georgia | Tybee Island Light 145 ft (44 m)[38] |
Cockspur Island Light 46 ft (14 m) |
Sapelo Island Light (1820) |
Louisiana | Unknown | Unknown | New Canal Light (1839[39]) |
Mississippi | Biloxi Light 61 ft (19 m) |
30 ft (9.1 m)I |
Tie(1848) | Biloxi Light
North Carolina | Cape Hatteras Light 210 ft (64 m) |
— | Bald Head Light (1817) |
South Carolina | Morris Island Light 161 ft (49 m) |
Haig Point F. R. Light 18 ft (5.5 m) |
Cape Romain Light (Old) (1827) |
Texas | Point Bolivar Light 116 ft (35 m) |
— | Point Isabel Light (1852) |
Virginia | Cape Charles Light 191 ft (58 m) |
Deepwater Shoals Light (1855) |
Cape Henry Lighthouse (1792) |
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2017) |
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.[40][41][42]
Name | Image | Location | Coordinates | Year first lit | Automated | Year deactivated | Current Lens | Height |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baker Island Light | Baker Island | 0°11′44.8″N 176°29′03.4″W | 1935 | Never | 1942 | None | 16 ft (4.9 m) | |
Howland Island Light (aka: Earhart Light) |
Howland Island | 0°48′20.6″N 176°37′08.6″W | 1937 | Never | 1942 | None | 20 ft (6.1 m) | |
Jarvis Island Light | Jarvis Island | 0°22′13.6″S 160°00′24.1″W | 1935 | Never | 1945 | None | 16 ft (4.9 m) | |
Navassa Island Light | Navassa Island | 18°23′50.7″N 75°00′46.2″W | 1917 | 1929 | 1996 | None | 161 ft (49 m) | |
Sand Island Aviation Light | — | Midway Atoll | 28°12′42.7″N 177°22′36.4″W | Unknown | Unknown | Active | Unknown | 46 ft (14 m) |
Wake Island Aviation Light | — | Wake Island | 19°17′02.0″N 166°39′05.2″E | Unknown | Unknown | Active | Unknown | 52 ft (16 m) |
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