The 13 Most Wonderful Lighthouses Across The USA

Lighthouses have served as a navigational aid for seamen for hundreds of years. It was born from a tradition of setting fires on hilltops to guide ships; this led to fire-lit platforms, and eventually the lighthouse. Before the development of clearly defined ports, these lighted towers were used to mark entrances for ships. By the turn of the century, its function switched to serve as warning signals against shipping hazards, like reefs or rocks. Here are America‘s most wonderful of the bunch.

Known as the ‘Jewel of the Port,’ this lighthouse, with the first ‘light’ being a lantern hung near the water’s edge, was constructed in 1837 and rebuilt at least twice until the outer harbor West Breakwater was officially completed in 1908. The lighthouse is no longer functioning, but it remains an icon of the port’s history in Lake Erie shipping.

Lorain, OH, USA

Perched on a cliff in central California, Pigeon Point Lighthouse was constructed in 1871 to guide ships along the Pacific; it was first lit on November 15, 1872. It is the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast, and one of the tallest in America at 115 feet tall.

Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Pigeon Point Rd, Pescadero, CA, USA