Florida's lighthouses: A guide to tours, climbs & views

No traveler will see them all on one trip, but even one lighthouse visit can give you postcard-like views and a memorable experience.

Hillsboro Inlet, FL - Ralph Krugler 

A dozen Florida lighthouses are open to visitors on a regular basis; another few are open periodically.

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Click here to see more of Florida's lighthouses on the USLHS Research Catalog

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Civil War vets to WWII radar, the Tawas Point lighthouse, MI, bridges 150 years of maritime history

Jutting out between Tawas Bay and Lake Huron, Tawas Point is ever evolving as the shoreline ebbs and flows with lake levels.

Tawas Point, MI - USLHS archive 

Nearly a mile back from the shoreline, though, stands a piece of history that's been firmly planted for more than a century. 

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Click here to see more of Tawas Point on the USLHS Research Catalog

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Historic 150-year-old Cape Canaveral lighthouse, FL, offers unique tours to public

It's a building that can be spotted for miles, but is considered a hidden gem at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Cape Canaveral, FL - Ralph Krugler 

The history of the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse is similar to the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. 

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Click here to see more of Cape Canaveral on the USLHS Research Catalog

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California Lighthouse, Aruba

Discover the Majestic California Lighthouse in Aruba if you're looking for breathtaking views of Aruba's coastline.

California, Aruba - Bill Posch 

The California Lighthouse is a must-visit destination.

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Most people miss this New Jersey State Park and the dune and Cape May Lighthouse are unreal

Some places feel like they were built to slow your pulse and sharpen your senses, and this coastal escape does both the second you arrive.

Cape May, NJ - James Hill 

Dunes roll toward the Atlantic, a striped lighthouse peeks above the pines, and trails lead to ponds where swans glide like they own the place.

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Click here to see more of Cape May on the USLHS Research Catalog

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Washington's lesser-known island in the San Juans is a secluded escape with scenic trails and the historic Patos Island Lighthouse

There's no electricity, no dock, no cell phone service, no drinking water and no flush toilets. You won't even find a garbage can on Patos Island, let alone any tourist services. 

Patos Island, WA - USLHS archive 

So what's the draw of this lesser-known destination in the San Juan archipelago?

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Click here to see more of Patos Island on the USLHS Research Catalog

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Visiting Peggy's Cove & Peggy's Point Lighthouse: Nova Scotia's most iconic view

Perched atop wave-worn granite and gazing out over St. Margaret's Bay, Peggy's Point Lighthouse is one of the most photographed places in all of Canada.

Peggy's Point, Canada - USLHS archive 

The whitewashed tower rising from rugged rock has become a symbol of Nova Scotia's maritime soul: resilient dramatic and deeply beautiful.

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The Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, OR, trapped is keepers with the Pacific Ocean 

Tillamook Rock Lighthouse was built on a bare stone pillar hammered constantly by the Pacific Ocean.

Tillamook Rock, OR - USLHS archive 

Construction crews had to leap from boats onto the rock and be winched up through crashing waves.

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Click here to see more of Tillamook Rock on the USLHS Research Catalog

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Iconic Sandy Point Lighthouse in Shelburne County, Canada, in need of repairs

Fundraising is underway in support of repairs to the Sandy Point Lighthouse in Shelburne Harbour.

Sandy Point, Canada - Dennis G. Jarvis 

Built in 1873, the iconic beacon sits on a crib on the eastern side of the harbour near the entrance.

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Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, NC, restoration to continue through 2026 due to uncovered structural issues

The ongoing restoration of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse will extend through at least the end of 2026 as newly discovered structural challenges require additional engineering review, according to an update from the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Cape Hatteras, NC - USLHS archive 

Mike Barber, public affairs specialist for the seashore, said metal cracking has been identified in most of the 16 cast-iron brackets that support the lighthouse's gallery decking.

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Click here to see more of Cape Hatteras on the USLHS Research Catalog

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U.S. Lighthouse Society News is produced by the U.S. Lighthouse Society to support lighthouse preservation, history, education and research.

If you have items of interest to the lighthouse community and its supporters, please email them to Ralph Krugler at ralph@uslhs.org 

Submitted by Ralph Krugler on