This is alist of lighthouses in the United States. TheUnited States has had approximately a thousandlights as well as light towers,range lights, and pier head lights.Michigan has the most lights of any state with over 150 past and present lights. Lighthouses that are in former U.S. territories are not listed here.
Most of the lights in the United States have been built and maintained by theCoast Guard (since 1939) and its predecessors, theUnited States Lighthouse Service (1910–1939) and theUnited States Lighthouse Board (1852–1910). Before the Lighthouse Board was established, local collectors of customs were responsible for lighthouses underStephen Pleasonton. As their importance to navigation has declined and as public interest in them has increased, the Coast Guard has been handing over ownership and in some cases responsibility for running them to other parties, the chief of them being theNational Park Service under theNational Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000.
| State | Tallest[1] (H) | Shortest[1] (H) | Oldest[2] (currently standing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | 133Boon Island Light 133 ft (41 m) | 020Pond Island Light 20 ft (6.1 m) | 1791Portland Head Light (1791)[3] |
| Massachusetts | 124Cape Ann Light 124 ft (38 m) | DisputedA | 1783Boston Light (1783)[4] |
| New Hampshire | 058Isles of Shoals Light 58 ft (18 m) | 048Portsmouth Harbor Light 48 ft (15 m) | 1865Isles of Shoals Light (1859)[5] |
| Rhode Island | 066Sakonnet Light 66 ft (20 m) | 013Ida Lewis Rock Light 13 ft (4.0 m) | 1831Poplar Point Light (1831)[6] |
| Connecticut | 089New London Harbor Light 89 ft (27 m)[7] | 025Mystic Seaport Light 25 ft (7.6 m) | 1801New London Harbor Light (1801)[7] |
| Vermont | 040Windmill Point Light 40 ft (12 m) | 013Whipple Point Light 13 ft (4.0 m) | 1846Juniper Island Light (1846)[2] |
The state of New Hampshire only has two lighthouses, both of which are located along the Atlantic coastline.[8]
| Name | Image | Location | Coordinates | Year first lit | Automated | Year deactivated | Current lens | Focal height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isles of Shoals Light |  | Isles of Shoals | 42°58′02″N70°37′23″W / 42.96722°N 70.62306°W /42.96722; -70.62306 (Isles of Shoals Light) | 1859 | 1987 | Active | VLB-44 LED unit | 82 ft (25 m) |
| Portsmouth Harbor Light |  | New Castle | 43°04′15″N70°42′30″W / 43.07083°N 70.70833°W /43.07083; -70.70833 (Portsmouth Harbor Light) | 1878 | 1960 | Active | Fourth orderFresnel | 48 ft (15 m) |
| State | Tallest[1] (H) | Shortest[1] (H) | Oldest (currently standing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 168Fire Island Lighthouse 168 ft (51 m)[10]B | 015Cape Vincent Light 15 ft (4.6 m) | 1797Montauk Point Light (1797)[11] |
| New Jersey | 171Absecon Light 171 ft (52 m)[12] | 036Ludlam's Beach Light 36 ft (11 m) | 1764Sandy Hook Light (1764)[13] |
| Pennsylvania | 068Presque Isle Light 68 ft (21 m) | 030Turtle Rock Light 30 ft (9.1 m) | 1857Erie Harbor Light (1857) |
| Delaware | 120Liston Range Rear Light 120 ft (37 m)[14] | 035Cherry Island Light 35 ft (11 m) | 1858Fenwick Island Light (1858)[15] |
| Maryland | 105Craighill Channel L.R.R. 105 ft (32 m)[16] | 015Craighill Channel U.R.F. 15 ft (4.6 m)[17] | 1825Pooles Island Light (1825)[18] |
| State | Tallest[1] (H) | Shortest[1] (H) | Oldest (currently standing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 055Dillon Reservoir Lighthouse 26 ft (7.9 m) | — | 1873Dillon Reservoir Lighthouse (circa 1963) |
| Illinois | 113Grosse Point Light 113 ft (34 m) | 035Waukegan Harbor Light 35 ft (11 m) | 1873Grosse Point Light (1873) |
| Indiana | 055Buffington Breakwater Light 55 ft (17 m) | 030Gary Breakwater Light 30 ft (9.1 m) | 1858Old Michigan City Light (1858)[20] |
| Michigan | 124White Shoal Light 121 ft (37 m) | 025Cheboygan Crib Light 25 ft (7.6 m) | 1825Fort Gratiot Light (1825)[21] |
| Minnesota | 070Duluth South Breakwater I.L. 70 ft (21 m) | 034Grand Marais Light 34 ft (10 m) | 1892Two Harbors Light (1892)[22]C |
| Nebraska | 100Linoma Lighthouse 100 ft (30 m) | 055Lake Minatare Light 55 ft (17 m) | — |
| Ohio | 161Northwood Light 161 ft (49 m)[23] | 020Port Clinton Light 20 ft (6.1 m) | 1821Marblehead Light (1821)[24] |
| Wisconsin | 111Rawley Point Light 111 ft (34 m) | 021Baileys Harbor Front RL 21 ft (6.4 m)[25] | 1853Baileys Harbor Light (1853)D |
The state of Colorado has only one lighthouse, the Dillon Reservoir Lighthouse, also known as the Lake Dillon Lighthouse. It is located in theDillon Reservoir (also referred to as Lake Dillon) inSummit County, Colorado. Although the exact completion date of the 26-foot tall tower is unknown, it was constructed along with the reservoir itself, which was completed in 1963. The lake is at an elevation of 9017 ft (2748 m), making this the highest elevation lighthouse in the U.S.[26][27][28][29]
The state of Nebraska has at least two faux lighthouses which were first lit in 1939. There is no evidence that either were used for navigational purposes as the state has no large bodies of water that would require the need. Linoma Lighthouse is located on a privately owned recreation area which was developed around an artificial lake, while Lake Minatare Lighthouse was "built to simulate a lighthouse". Also of note is a faux lighthouse called Rock Garden Lighthouse (not listed below), located inKearney.[30][31]
| Name | Image | Location | Coordinates | Year first lit | Automated | Year deactivated | Current lens | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linoma Lighthouse |  | Gretna | 41°3′44″N96°19′8″W / 41.06222°N 96.31889°W /41.06222; -96.31889 | 1939 | Always | Active | Decorative | 100 100 ft (30 m) |
| Lake Minatare Lighthouse |  | Scottsbluff | 41°55′50″N103°30′05″W / 41.93056°N 103.50139°W /41.93056; -103.50139 | 1939 | Always | Active | Decorative | 055 55 ft (17 m) |
| State | Tallest[1] (H) | Shortest[1] (H) | Oldest (currently standing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 075Cape Decision Light 75 ft (23 m) | 020Point Sherman Light 20 ft (6.1 m)E | 1906Eldred Rock Light (1906)[33] |
| Washington | 107Grays Harbor Light 107 ft (33 m) | 020Turn Point Light 20 ft (6.1 m) | 1856Cape Disappointment (1856) |
| Oregon | 093Yaquina Head Light 93 ft (28 m)[34] | 025Warrior Rock Light 25 ft (7.6 m) | 1870Cape Blanco Light (1870) |
| California | 115Pigeon Point Light Point Arena Light 115 ft (35 m)F | 020Lime Point Light 20 ft (6.1 m) | 1855Point Pinos Light (1855) |
| Hawaii | 138Moloka'i Light 138 ft (42 m) | 022Kuki'i Point Light 22 ft (6.7 m) | 1909Moloka'i Light (1909)G |
| State | Tallest[1] (H) | Shortest[1] (H) | Oldest (currently standing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 131Sand Island Light 131 ft (40 m)[35] | 054Middle Bay Light 54 ft (16 m)[36] | 1873Sand Island Light (1873) |
| Florida | 175Ponce de Leon Light 175 ft (53 m) | 023Cedar Key Light 23 ft (7.0 m)[37] | 1838Amelia Island Light (1838) |
| Georgia | 145Tybee Island Light 145 ft (44 m)[38] | 046Cockspur Island Light 46 ft (14 m) | 1820Sapelo Island Light (1820) |
| Louisiana | Unknown | Unknown | 1852New Canal Light (1839[39]) |
| Mississippi | 061Biloxi Light 61 ft (19 m) | 030 Tie 30 ft (9.1 m)I | 1848Biloxi Light (1848) |
| North Carolina | 210Cape Hatteras Light 210 ft (64 m) | — | 1817Bald Head Light (1817) |
| South Carolina | 161Morris Island Light 161 ft (49 m) | 018Haig Point F. R. Light 18 ft (5.5 m) | 1827Cape Romain Light (Old) (1827) |
| Texas | 116Point Bolivar Light 116 ft (35 m) | — | 1852Point Isabel Light (1852) |
| Virginia | 191Cape Charles Light 191 ft (58 m) | 1855Deepwater Shoals Light (1855) | 1792Cape Henry Lighthouse (1792) |
| Territory | Tallest (H) | Shortest (H) | Oldest[2] (currently standing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | Punta Higüero Light 69 ft (21 m) | Los Morrillos Light 40 ft (12 m) | Port San Juan Light (1846) |
| American Samoa | Breakers Point Light190 ft (58 m) | Aunu'u Light 25 ft (7.6 m) | |
| Guam | Ritidian Point Light 574 ft (175 m) | Apra Outer Harbor Range Front Light 39 ft (12 m) | Orote Point Light (1929)[40] |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Japanese Light (a.k.a. Garapan Light) (Unknown) | Japanese Light (a.k.a. Garapan Light) (1934) | |
| Virgin Islands | Hams Bluff Light 394 ft (120 m) | Fort Luise Augusta Light 58 ft (18 m) | Fort Luise Augusta Light (1919) |
This table lists lighthouses that are ininsular areas of the United States. All of the islands listed below are uninhabited, and have not been formerly incorporated into the country.[41][42][43]
| Name | Image | Location | Coordinates | Year first lit | Automated | Year deactivated | Current lens | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baker Island Light | .jpg) | Baker Island | 0°11′44.8″N176°29′03.4″W / 0.195778°N 176.484278°W /0.195778; -176.484278 | 1935 | Never | 1942 | None | 016 16 ft (4.9 m) |
| Howland Island Light (aka: Earhart Light) |  | Howland Island | 0°48′20.6″N176°37′08.6″W / 0.805722°N 176.619056°W /0.805722; -176.619056 | 1937 | Never | 1942 | None | 020 20 ft (6.1 m) |
| Jarvis Island Light |  | Jarvis Island | 0°22′13.6″S160°00′24.1″W / 0.370444°S 160.006694°W /-0.370444; -160.006694 | 1935 | Never | 1945 | None | 016 16 ft (4.9 m) |
| Navassa Island Light |  | Navassa Island | 18°23′50.7″N75°00′46.2″W / 18.397417°N 75.012833°W /18.397417; -75.012833 | 1917 | 1929 | 1996 | None | 161 161 ft (49 m) |
| Sand Island Aviation Light | — | Midway Atoll | 28°12′42.7″N177°22′36.4″W / 28.211861°N 177.376778°W /28.211861; -177.376778 | Unknown | Unknown | Active | Unknown | 046 46 ft (14 m) |
| Wake Island Aviation Light | — | Wake Island | 19°17′02.0″N166°39′05.2″E / 19.283889°N 166.651444°E /19.283889; 166.651444 | Unknown | Unknown | Active | Unknown | 052 52 ft (16 m) |
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