13 Must-Visit Lighthouses in the United States

Venture to Amelia Island Lighthouse, the oldest existing lighthouse in Florida. The northeast Florida landmark was built in 1838, and its light remains in operation today. While the lighthouse structure itself is now privately owned, its grounds are open every Saturday, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Guided tours inside the lighthouse are available the first and third Wednesday of every month. © Benkrut | Dreamstime.com

The 156-foot Bodie Island Lighthouse on the Outer Banks, North Carolina, overlooks Roanoke Sound. Climb its 219 spiral steps to the top to see the iconic shoreline from above. The lighthouse, built in 1872, is one of just a few remaining tall brick house lighthouses left in the country, and one of fewer with an original first-order Fresnel lens. © Cvandyke | Dreamstime.com

There’s not one but two lighthouses at Cape Henry, Virginia. The original lighthouse (built in 1792) operated until the Civil War and, when structural issues were uncovered, a new lighthouse was erected in 1881, just 350 feet from the original one. Both lighthouses overlook Chesapeake Bay, and the newer structure is the only lighthouse on the Virginia coast to still have a first-order Fresnel lens. © Angel Claudio | Dreamstime.com

Still in operation today, Cape May Lighthouse in New Jersey is a 157-foot lighthouse built in 1823. But this lighthouse wasn’t the first in the area; in fact, two previous lighthouses existed before, but both are now underwater due to erosion. The lighthouse is open to the public, and 199 steps to the top promise views all the way to Cape May City, Wildwood and Battery 223 fort. © Thomas Lozinski | Dreamstime.com

This bold and vibrant lighthouse can be found along Lake Charlevoix, Michigan. Charlevoix Lighthouse replaced an older structure in 1948 and, while just 44 feet tall, this structure is well-worth a visit thanks to its lake views and photo opportunities. © Oseland | Dreamstime.com

Grosse Point Lighthouse in Evanston, Illinois, was built in 1873 after a series of shipping disasters, including the sinking of Lady Elgin in 1860. A National Historic Landmark, the lighthouse was designed in Italianate architecture and is open to the public today for tours on summer weekends. © Jim Roberts | Dreamstime.com

Lighthouses aren’t just designated to the East Coast or Great Lakes. In Honolulu, Hawai’i, you’ll find Diamond Head Lighthouse Honolulu, a 40-foot tower first lit in 1899. Fun fact: Melvin Bell served as a radio operator at the lighthouse when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, and he was responsible for warning civilians. © Sorin Colac | Dreamstime.com

About 200 yards off the coast of East Providence, Rhode Island, is Pomham Rocks Lighthouse, the northernmost lighthouse in Narrangansett Bay. Established in 1871, the relatively short lighthouse was acquired by ExxonMobil in 2010 and renovated. A dedicated boat was also provided to let visitors explore the structure, including the original lens. © Alwoodphoto | Dreamstime.com

Within Discovery Park, Seattle’s largest public park, is West Point Lighthouse, an active lighthouse guiding ships along Puget Sound and Elliott Bay. At just 23 feet tall, this lighthouse may not be as dominating as others across the country, but coming upon it by foot from the beach, you’ll appreciate the natural beauty of the coast and the historic lighthouse that has stood since 1881. © Gnives50 | Dreamstime.com

Considered the most recognized lighthouse in Maryland, Thomas Point Lighthouse is a screw-pile lighthouse in Chesapeake Bay. The hexagonal structure, constructed in 1875, was built into the area’s soft sea floor. Today, the lighthouse is operated by the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Lighthouse Society offers boat tours from Annapolis to visit the keeper’s former living quarters. © Laurie Williams | Dreamstime.com

At the tip of Leelanau Peninsula between Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay is Grand Traverse Lighthouse. Accessible to the public, the 41-foot tower includes a restored lighthouse resembling a keeper’s home in the 1920s and 30s. There are also exhibits on foghorns, shipwrecks, local history and more. © Karen Foley | Dreamstime.com

Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, is the oldest lighthouse in the state, built in 1791. The building guided ships into Portland Harbor for centuries. While the tower, beacon and foghorn are run by the U.S. Coast Guard, the former lighthouse keeper’s house is now a maritime museum in Fort Williams Park. © Sean Pavone | Dreamstime.com

Between Santa Cruz and San Francisco is Pigeon Point Lighthouse, a 115-foot-tall structure that may look like it belongs in New England but actually sits on the coastal highway overlooking the Pacific Ocean in California. Still an active Coast Guard aid, the lighthouse is now part of Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park. The restored lighthouse keepers’ housing has been a youth hostel since the 1960s, and stargazers flock to the lighthouse thanks to its dark skies. © Enrique Gomez Tamez | Dreamstime.com