The 5 Best Lighthouses in New England
Are these the best lighthouses in New England? From iconic to haunted, they’re certainly some of our favorites.
By Yankee Magazine|Dec 14 2021|
Gay Head Light | Best Lighthouses in New England
Photo Credit: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gay_Head_Light_-_USA_MA.jpg">Wikimedia Commons</a>First things first — it’s impossible to truly rank the “best lighthouses in New England.” Each is unique and beautiful in its own way. But since we love a challenge, we thought we’d use Jon Marcus’s comprehensive book Lighthouses of New England (Voyageur Press, 2002), which covers everything from the most stunning to the most haunted beacons found anywhere in the world, to come up with five notable lighthouses that stand slightly above the rest. Have a look and see if your favorite made the list!
5 Best Lighthouses in New England
Photo Credit : Wikimedia Commons
Gay Head Light in Aquinnah, MA
Best Scenic Lighthouse
On the western end of Martha’s Vineyard, visitors are allowed into the red-brick lantern tower, where they can watch the two lights rotate–and take in extraordinary sunsets over the Aquinnah Cliffs and surf below. gayheadlight.org
Photo Credit : Wikimedia Commons
Stonington Harbor Light in Stonington Point, CT
Best Lighthouse for History Plus a View
In the darkest days of the War of 1812, five British warships lined up off the coast of Stonington, Connecticut, and attacked the town. The bombardment is commemorated at the site’s Old Lighthouse Museum inside. The vista here is a bonus: From the octagonal tower of this granite lighthouse are views of three states: New York, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. stoningtonhistory.org
Photo Credit : Courtesy of Seguin Island Light
Seguin Island Light in Popham, ME
Most Haunted Lighthouse
In the mid-1800s, one keeper’s wife couldn’t stand living at this desolate station. To appease her, he arranged to buy a player piano. When it arrived, however, there was only one piece of music, and she played it over and over for hours at a time. Driven mad, the keeper strangled his wife and took an axe to the piano. Now witnesses say that at night they can hear a phantom piano playing from the lighthouse. seguinisland.org
Photo Credit : Photo by Brian D. Bell / CC BY-SA 3.0
Petit Manan Light on Petit Manan Island, ME
Most Naturally Iconic Lighthouse
The most extraordinary natural lighthouse setting is the 3,335-acre Maine Coastal Islands which includes Petit Manan Island, famous for its colony of puffins and its nesting birds, including Arctic terns. fws.gov/refuge/maine_coastal_islands
Photo Credit : Nola Arnold
Nubble Light in York Beach, ME
Most Widely Traveled Lighthouse
So archetypal is Cape Neddick (“the Nubble”) Light off York Beach, Maine, that a photo of it was launched, along with other artifacts, aboard the Voyager II spacecraft in 1977. But space scientists weren’t the first to recognize the value of its appeal. One entrepreneurial keeper in the early 20th century ferried as many as 300 visitors a day to the lighthouse for 10 cents apiece. For a nickel more, his wife would give them tours. They were fired for neglecting the light. nubblelight.org
What are your picks for the best lighthouses in New England?
This post was first published in 2011 and has been updated.
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My favorite lighthouse is Portland Head. I live is Texas now and miss seeing all the Maine lights. I have pictures and Harbor Lights in my home
We enjoyed (?) walking out to the Rockland lighthouse (3/4 mile).
However, we were disappointed that there were no souvenirs (I walked the breakwater at Rockland!) waiting for us there at either end!!
Our favorite is also Portland Head, with Nubble a close second. Maine lights have a “WOW” factor that does not exist in other states with lighthouses. But all of them are treasures and should all be saved for future generations.
Nubble Light is my favorite. It brings back so many happy childhood memories of vacations in York Beach in the 1930s and 40s. All lighthouses are unique and have their wonderful historical stories.
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL.. AND ..THE MOST SPECTACULAR ..is WEST QUODDY HEAD LIGHT IN LUBEC , MAINE..OVER THE RISE IN THE ROAD SURROUNDED BY TOWERING PINE TREES IS AN OPENING BEFORE YOU . And is truly breathtaking …thIS ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR SIGHTS IN THE WORLD…the ocean stretching for miles by this incredible lighthouse and old Lightkeepers cottag(now an accessible visitor center) in front.THIS IS A SIGHT THAT YOU WILL NEVER FORGET….
Pemaquid Point Light being omitted here is an egregious oversight
I’ve been to Nubble and I love visiting, but Portland head, to me, is the most beautiful. My favorite (for the nostalgia factor) is Two Lights, Cape Elizabeth, ME. Many happy hours spent there climbing the rocks, family picnics, winter hikes in the woods. I went there as a child; later with my son; still later in the dead of winter, alone with my dog. One day I hope I’ll be able to get my grandchildren up there.
Two Lights, definitely!!!
Absolutely!!! The most beautiful place on earth, and not even a mention?
Seems you’ve left off the two light houses on Block Island RI. The Southeast and the North Lighthouses I think are two of the greatest in New England. Where are they on your list?
Beavertail Lighthouse, Beavertail State Park, Jamestown, RI since 1749.
Mart, I agree with you about Beaver tail light.
MY FAVORITE
Yes!
Portland Headlight, Cape Elizabeth, Maine my favorite. I was deploy from Fort Williams where the Atlantic Ocean backs up this fort is this beautiful lighthouse in the early 50’s. I grew up in Saco, Maine but now living in Ft Worth, Texas. My wife & I vacation in Maine every year. Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse is also a favorite on MDI ( Mount Desert Island) south east of Bar Harbor. Most visit Boston but Maine is the place all should go. From Kittery up the East coast to Eastport, Maine
Portland Headlight, Bass Harbor light, and Pemiquid Point are my favorites. Don’t get up there much anymore, live in McAllen TX now formally from Fryeburg Me
Why no mention of Highland Lighthouse, North Truro, Mass.? This is a beautiful lighthouse, oldest on Cape Cod with spectacular views especially of Provincetown. By far I think the best.
Thank you Barbara. I agree. I was one of the many volunteers who worked to save Highland Light from falling into the ocean.
Love Nubble Light!
Like it was said in the beginning……….Impossible to do.
Why didn’t the Portland Head Light House make this list. We have seen it many times including from the ocean on our cruise. We have lots of pictures of it. It is my favorite.
Yes, I wondered about that too. The Portland Light is beautiful. I have seen it also from a cruise ship.
We have been going to Maine for 40yrs plus and we always go to Pemiquid Light House, Marshall Point , Nubble Light. some of our favorites. Pemiquid Light House is on the state quarter and is the only light house you can climb up to the lens.
Pemaquid Point, Bear Island and Owls Head are very scenic and Rockland Breakwater, West Quoddy and again Pemaquid are interesting to visit.
I think the most beautiful is the candy-striped lighthouse in Lubec, ME. I see it reproduced in models, pictures, cards, …… Worth a trip up the coast to see it.
I used to live in Lubec and I must agree with you. Many a day I spent at that light house having lunch overlooking the water it was superb as well as Quoddy Head and Pemaquid Point all of which I have been to while living in Lubec. The least three are spectacular one of the most photographed Lighthouse is, and very beautiful also, is Portland Head Light. These lighthouses are etched in my memory forever. As a matter of fact, I have a statue of each one of them. And they are all worth the trip.
Is the lighthouse in Lubec Me, the one that was in Pete’s Dragon?
I can’t disagree with any of the lighthouses called out in the article and readers’ comments. I can only say that five is an impossibly small number to settle upon, given how many uniquely beautiful sentinels grace the New England coastline. If I had to add one, it would be New London Ledge, a glorious, square, brick structure poised in the middle of Connecticut’s Thames River. It even has a resident ghost-a former keeper who threw himself into the sea in despair when his wife sailed off with a tender captain.
Let’s not forget about Chatham Lighthouse ,Chatham, Ma. One of the most famous on Cape Cod! You will find few spots on the entire East Coast that can equal the view at Chatham Light. A must see!! A family favorite!
My favorite is Nobska light in Falmouth MA. Set on a cliff overlooking Martha’s Vinyard. Many good memories.
Eastern Point lighthouse at entrance to Gloucester Harbor.
Best LIGHTHOUSES on BLOCK ISLAND!Their view are SPECTACULAR!!!
Yes they are.
I think you might have been better off doing an article on “The 5 Best Lighthouses in Each New England State” though even then you’d be hard-pressed to limit it to just 5! If you need someone to volunteer to do that for you, I’d be happy to offer up myself!
We are perhaps a little chauvanistic about our lighthouses here in New England…..here’s a sobering bit of tangental trivia–Which state has the most lighthouses? Hmmmmmmmm……would you believe? It’s. Michigan!!!
With I could see some of your wonderful “lights” but we have plenty here in Michigan too…also Florida has some really “neat” ones! I never met a lighthouse I didn’t love!
I love Nubble Light. I have been there many times, especially while I attended UNH, very near there, and had a car. Somebody I knew at UNH went skin diving there for mussels and sea urchins. She got so many she was very generous sharing them. That is the first time I had mussels and they were so fresh. I have also loved sea urchins since she introduced me to them. We sauteed the sea urchins in garlic butter and used it for the mussels, too. YUM! I also like sea urchins raw in Sushi restaurants (they call it uni). I agree with several comments. There are a number of really beautiful lighthouses all over our country and in Canada, as well.
You forgot both the North and South Lighthouses on Block Island, the few you can still climb to the top and what a view! and Lynde Lighthouse in Old Saybrook,Ct. New London Ledge in New London,Ct
Having read the comments – I can’t believe you went with only five lighthouses! ANY of the lighthouses on Cape Ann (born in Gloucester) are ones I try to see again and again. Many ME lights are so spectacular, as are the ones in CT and Montauk on Long Island. My husband and I have seen 200+ now – it never gets old…
When writing about New England lighthouses, how can one possibly exclude the twin lighthouses of Thacher Island off Rockport, Massachusetts? With their beauty and historic origins, they are a travel article unto themselves.
You forgot the most unassuming lighthouse. That would be Castle Hill Light in Newport, R.I. It’s a great little light.
I’m sorry Jim, but Castle Hill is not one of the best lighthouses in New England. You have to trespass to see it, if you aren’t a patron of Castle Hill. You cannot get into it and it’s old and rusty. Cute lighthouse to visit but definitely NOT top five.
U 4got Portland Head??? Shame shame
I never tire of visiting lighthouses, there is something magical and mysterious about each one. A lost and wonderful way of life.
Did you know you can get a Lighthouse passport? Get it stamped at lighthouses you visit. These five are a great start but only that, so many gorgeous lighthouses to explore!
Where can you get those passports??? Any idea?
which light house about an hour from Coventry RI is the best overnight stay or a couple who love scenic beauty
What is the name o the lighthouse you can have an overnight stay?
I love all the lighthouses you mentioned – but Pemaquid Point is still my very favorite! A beautiful lighthouse and no better place to relax and watch the tide come in.
Pemaquid point lighthouse and Portland Headlight lighthouse are my two favorites in Maine. Also want to see the West Quaddy lighthouse.
Honorable mention should go to Goose Rocks lighthouse where you can stay overnight and have the entire lighthouse to yourself. http://www.beaconpreservation.org/website/publish/home/homeList.php
I first saw Pemaquid Point Lighthouse when I was nine months old and did so until we moved. I cannot leave Maine on a visit without seeing Pemaquid Point LH. I can sit for hours sitting on the rocks watching the tide coming/going. What a great way to relax!!
I was at a craft fair in Maryland several years ago and stopped at a display of framed photos, one of which was Pemaquid Point. I looked at it and said to the man selling them and said “I will buy that one if you turn it right side up.” He looked at me with a strange look and I told him I had visited it many times! He changed it and I have it hanging in my bedroom.
My all time favorite place is Beavertail in Jamestown RI . I go there to just sit on the beautiful scenic rocks and watch the ocean. My husband and I have gone there for over 50 years. We have even had the opportunity to get an inside tour o the lighthouse and climb to the top and walk around the outside at the top.
Picking a favorite lighthouse is like picking your favorite grandchild. It can’t be done. Every lighthouse has it’s distinctive features. Among my favorites are Bass Harbor and Nubble. Living near Long Island Sound, we have some good candidates as we…
I lived on sequin lighthouse in the late 70s never heard the piano playing also forgot to turn the light on one night that didn’t go over to good
I have three favorite Lighthouses. Nubble Light , Portland head light and Owls Head Light. Live in Texas now but every chance I get to go home to Northern New England I go to see my lighthouses.
My favorite is Scuituate Harbor light, MA. I grew up running on those big rocks in the 2 breakwaters. My mom would cook our supper on a Coleman campstove (the one you had to pump with a rod to get the gas to the burner. Me and my brother would play on the rocks like a couple of mountain goats. My dad would fish off the breakwater. The lighthouse there has always been my favorite. It also has history. 2 sisters drove off a british ship by beating a drum and playing a fife, making the British think there were soldiers there. The town itself a small quaint harbor town, somewhat reminiscent of old Cape Cod. Love that lighthouse.
How bout Edgartown lighthouse? Beautiful
I have always loved the Point Judith lighthouse in Narragansett, RI. Beavertail in Jamestown is a close second.
Nubble Light in York Beach, Maine should stay on the “best” list forever. It is truly a special place for many people.
A dramatic and imposing lighthouse with a romantic signal is Minot’s Light in Cohasset/Scituate, Mass. Its signal is 1-4-3, understood locally as “I Love You”.
If you can see only one lighthouse, it would have to be Nubble Light.
BEAUTIFUL!!!
Portland Head Light is a worthy candidate for the list. Most times, it is on the list for the best lighthouses in the country. Another favorite of mine is Nobska in Falmouth – Woods Hole Cape Cod. It sits on a bluff overlooking the boundary of Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds and provided navigational safety to one of the busiest maritime passages of the nineteenth century.