Where in the United States Does the Sun Shine First?
Where in America does the sun shine first? Turns out the answer is more complicated than you might think…
By Judson D. Hale|Jul 08 2022|
Coffee By Design | Portland, Maine
Photo Credit : Katherine KeenanEveryone agrees that the sun shines least during the month of December. But where, exactly where, does it shine first? Over the years, many readers have written (or emailed) us here at Yankee asking us that very question. I used to reply that the answer to “where in the United States does the sun shine first?”was West Quoddy Head, Maine, which is New England’s easternmost point of mainland. But then I found that not everyone agreed. So, with the help of Blanton C. Wiggin, then the puzzle editor of The Old Farmer’s Almanac, I undertook an exhaustive study of the matter.
Where in the United States Does The Sun Shine First? | Expert Findings
Our findings: Between January 11 and March 6 as well as between October 7 and November 29, the sun first hits the top of Cadillac Mountain on the island of Mt. Desert, Maine. It would be West Quoddy Head, but for the fact that for up to five minutes, the hills of Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick, block the sun on the mornings of those dates, thus making Cadillac Mountain the winner.
The only times that West Quoddy Head wins, we found, are those mornings from March 7 to March 24 and then from September 19 to October 6. For much of the remaining dates in the year, we discovered the winner to be sort of a dark-horse candidate. Turned out to be a 1,660 feet high elevation known as Mars Hill, located on the New Brunswick line north of Maine’s Washington County, which, incidentally, proudly proclaims itself as “The Sunrise County of the U. S. A.”
However, there were, we found, exceptions even during the comparatively long Mars Hill periods of the year. For instance, sometimes the high hills of Carleton County, New Brunswick, block the Mars Hill sunrise for a few minutes, giving an occasional morning to the top of Mount Katahdin in central Maine.
We published these fairly complicated results in a winter issue one year but it only seemed to intensify the arguments. Most upset were the residents of Washington County, Maine. They seemed to favor being “the Sunrise County of the U.S.A.” all year, not just most of the year. At least they and everyone concerned seemed to agree that the one and only place in New England where one can stand on the mainland and watch the sun go down over the Atlantic Ocean is Race Point, Provincetown, Cape Cod. Well, almost everyone agreed it was the only place. Some, for instance, mentioned Wellfleet and Truro.
Perhaps I could add here that there is no argument whatsoever on how to determine the date of Easter each year. It’s the first Sunday following the day of the full moon on or after the vernal equinox…with rare exceptions. Very rare. Not worth arguing about.
Have you ever wondered “Where does the sun shine first?”
This post was first published in 2012 and has been updated.
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Be careful to specify “United States”each time the question is posed. If you introduce “America” into the conversation,you are opening another can of worms! (Brazil?). By the way- where does the expression “can of worms come fr……….NEVER MIND!
Unless you specify CONTINENTAL United States, in fact, it is the eastern end of the Caribbean island of St. Croix, a US possession.
Using this argument, surely Guam would be the first US territory to see sunrise?….or is there another US territory closer to the international date line?
Could our winner be the aptly named Wake Island?
Back in August of 1959 when I was stationed at Loring AFB in Limestone, ME a group of us guys drove down to Mars Hill to witness the first sunrise on the new 50 star US flag at the top of Mars Hill. It was claimed to be the first sunrise on the new flag. A road was bulldozed to the top so cars could drive up there for the event. Wish I could locate the photos I took.
Guam’s slogan: “Where America’s Day Begins”. But Wake Is. has a sign at its airport that reads: Where America’s Day Really Begins”. Because that’s where it really does begin. So: The sun first shines in America on Wake Island. I know because I was there. Jack Cassidy
My parents used to see the sunrise from the summit of Cadillac Mt every Easter morning.
Stephen, the international dateline (in the Pacific) is where the new day begins. St. Croix (my home) is west if the date line and NOT the first.
Alaska is the state that is farthest north, east, and west while Hawaii is farthest south. The reason that Alaska is farthest east and west is due to the fact that the Aleutian Islands cross the 180° meridian of longitude, placing some of the islands actually in the Eastern Hemisphere and thus degrees east of Greenwich (and the Prime Meridian).
Best sunset.. Menemsha Beach MV
There is still more to find in New England.
My daughter recently saw the sunrise from the eastern-most point in North American, the cliffs at Cape Spear Newfoundland. A wonderful vantage point but dangerous; a woman fell to her death that morning.
I noticed that you have the sun rising for most of the year in Mars Hill, Maine. Please note that Mars Hill is in Aroostook County not Washington County.
There is a spot on schoodic point where you can watch the sunset over the Atlantic.
Except this is only true for the contiguous states. The first sunrise would be in Guam (“Where America’s day begins”), which is on the other side of the International Date Line, were it is already tomorrow. However, in Alaska, north of 66.5 degrees for 6 months the sun does not set. So the first sunlight would be at 00.01 (local) each day. Now the last sunset should be Peaked Island in the Aleutians.
I agree with the folks from Washington County. From mid 1966 to late 1967 I was in the U.S. Air Force and based at the 907th Radar Squadron in Buck’s Harbor Maine. The base was right on the coast about 15 miles outside of Machias. I was a crew chief for the maintenance of the radar systems and worked swing or mid shifts while stationed there. I’m in my seventies now so my memory isn’t what it used to be but I remember well always going outside to watch first light and then sunrise. I always did it regardless of how cold it was. The view over Cutler bay was just magnificent and I’ll never forget it. USAF 1965 1969
” there is no argument whatsoever on how to determine the date of Easter each year. ???! hmmm. Those who follow the Greek (Eastern) Orthodox faith would disagree! Easter is, for us, celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox, but always after Passover. There is also something about following the Gregorian calendar rather than the Julian calendar…but good Greek mommas know: It’s all about getting the Easter clothes and candy half price, the day after the western celebration!
Semisopochonol Island wins techniclly being both the northernmost point and eastermost point in the usa (part of Alaska)
The first place to see daylight in the U.S. is on Guam.
America’s Day begins in Guam? Wrong Wake Island has the real claim to where America’s Day Really Begins and I have a t-shirt to prove it.
I remember seeing what was claimed to be the first 50 star United States flag flown in the contigous 48 United States at sunrise July 4, 1960 on top of Mars Hill Mountain. It had rained during the night and it was a muddy mess going up the dirt {mud} road that had recently been opened up. The only vehicles that could transport people up the mountain were 4 wheel drive jeeps and trucks.The clouds broke enough at sunrise that the sun shown on the flag. It was a beautiful sight. i was visiting Mars Hill with my Grandfather and Great Uncle, Alton and Harry Townsend who were born and raised in Mars Hill. I remember my Grandfather telling me about sking on Mars Hill when he was a boy around 1900 with a set of home made skies.
Very informative 10/10
Well I’m here to find out where and the approximate time the sun first comes up in the Continuous United States. I can’t believe the time isn’t mentioned..
The time of sunrise changes everyday. It would be impossible to give a time.
Its contiguous not continuous.
Thanks.I didn’t want to get called a FSA
Had breakfast at Bar Harbor Inn. Saw the Bluenose leaving. We then went to Cadillac Mtn. And–there was the Bluenose going over the horizen. First time the curvature of earth was real for me!! Len Tatko
where does that expression about can of worms come from?
Well Done!!!
I was born on the border near the base of Mars hill,so therefore mars hill is the winner,,
Check below–it is ALASKA !
I’m from Maine..I go with Cadillac Mt!!
Cadillac Mountain in Maine