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Famous Lighthouses
Famous Lighthouses logo Famous Lighthouses

Portland Head Light

One of Maine’s most famous lighthouse landmarks by the Atlantic Ocean.

  • It began guiding ships in 1791, making it one of the oldest lighthouses in the United States.
  • The lighthouse stands on rocky cliffs in Fort Williams Park, where big ocean waves often crash below.
  • Its bright white tower and black top help sailors spot the coast in daylight and at night.

Lindesnes Lighthouse

This lighthouse marks Norway’s southern coast and helps ships find safe paths.

  • It is one of Norway’s oldest lighthouse stations, first lit in 1656.
  • The tower stands by the rough North Sea, where weather can change very quickly.
  • Today, visitors can learn lighthouse history there and enjoy wide ocean views.

Tower of Hercules

This ancient lighthouse still helps guide ships today.

  • It stands in A Coruña, Spain, and is one of the oldest working lighthouses in the world.
  • The first tower was built by the Romans almost 2,000 years ago.
  • In 2009, UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site because of its history and importance.

Fanad Head Lighthouse

Here are three quick facts to help young explorers remember this famous Irish lighthouse.

  • Fanad Head Lighthouse stands on the rocky north coast of County Donegal in Ireland.

  • The lighthouse began guiding ships in 1817, helping sailors travel safely near the Atlantic Ocean.

  • Its bright white tower and dark lantern top make it easy to spot from land and sea.

Split Rock Lighthouse

This cliffside lighthouse helped ships travel safely along Lake Superior.

  • It was first lit in 1910 after a major storm season caused many shipwrecks nearby.
  • The lighthouse stands high on rocky cliffs, so its light could be seen from far out on the lake.
  • Today it is a historic site where students can learn how lighthouse keepers worked every day.

Pigeon Point Lighthouse

This tall lighthouse on California’s coast has helped sailors find safe paths for over 150 years.

  • Built in 1872, it is one of the tallest lighthouses on the west coast of the United States.
  • Its powerful Fresnel lens once sent bright flashes far out into the Pacific Ocean at night.
  • Today, students and families visit to learn how lighthouse keepers guided ships before modern GPS.

La Jument Lighthouse

This stormy lighthouse in France helps ships stay safe near rough Atlantic rocks.

  • It stands on a tiny rock island off the coast of Brittany, where waves can crash very high.

  • Workers had to bring building materials by boat, making construction difficult in wild weather.

  • A famous photo of La Jument shows huge waves hitting the tower while the lightkeeper stood at the door.

Nubble Lighthouse

This bright lighthouse has guided ships near Maine's rocky coast for over a century.

  • Nubble Lighthouse stands on a tiny island called Nubble Island, just off the shore of York, Maine.
  • It was first lit in 1879, helping sailors spot dangerous rocks and stay on safe routes.
  • Because of its classic white tower and red roof, it is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the United States.

St. Augustine Lighthouse

This tall striped lighthouse in Florida has guided ships for more than a century.

Its black-and-white tower is about 50 meters tall, making it one of the tallest lighthouses in the United States.

Climbing to the top means walking up 219 steps to see wide views of the coast and city.

The lighthouse opened in 1874 and still helps people learn about sea travel history today.

LIGHTHOUSE FACTS

Cape Byron Lighthouse

This bright white lighthouse helps ships near Australia’s east coast and is easy for young explorers to remember.

  • It stands at Cape Byron, the easternmost point of mainland Australia.
  • The lighthouse first shone in 1901, guiding ships along a busy ocean route.
  • From nearby lookouts, people can often spot dolphins and migrating whales.

Bell Rock Lighthouse

A brave lighthouse built to guide ships through dangerous North Sea waters.

  • Bell Rock Lighthouse stands on a reef off Scotland that is often covered by water at high tide.
  • It began shining in 1811, making it one of the world’s oldest sea-washed lighthouses still working today.
  • Engineers had to build it in short work windows between tides, which made construction very challenging.

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

This tall Oregon lighthouse has guided ships along the Pacific coast for over a century.

  • It first lit up in 1873, and it is the tallest lighthouse in Oregon.
  • The tower stands on Yaquina Head, a rocky area where people can also spot tide pools and seabirds.
  • Its bright beam helps boats find safer paths through foggy weather and rough coastal waters.