Lighthouses of Arizona

The U.S. state of Arizona is landlocked and mostly desert; navigation is limited to the lakes created by a series of dams on the Colorado River. One of these lakes is Lake Havasu, where the diligent members of the Lake Havasu Lighthouse Club have been building a series of lighthouses. These lights are reduced size replicas inspired by famous lighthouses of the U.S. and Canada. The lights are legitimate aids to navigation, with designs approved by the Coast Guard and locations approved by the state as part of a master plan for lighting the waterways of the lake. Eventually there will be more than 20 lighthouses, including several on the California side of the lake. What's Hot: General Sources Lake Havasu Lighthouse Club The club's web site has photos and maps documenting the lighthouse construction project.

East Quoddy Head Replica, October 2006 Creative Commons photo by Presley

 

* Cape Hatteras Replica

2002. Active; amber flash every 1 s. 45 ft (14 m) round pyramidal tower (much more strongly tapered than the original), painted with Cape Hatteras's distinctive black and white spiral pattern. The color of this light was changed from white to amber to provide better visibility to boats on the lake; the white light was hard to see against the developed shoreline. The original Cape Hatteras Light is the tallest lighthouse in the U.S., located near Buxton, North Carolina. Located at the personal watercraft ramp of Lake Havasu State Park about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) northwest of London Bridge in Lake Havasu City. Site open, tower closed.

* East Quoddy Head Replica

2006. Active; red flash every 1 s. 18 ft (5.5 m) tower, painted white with a red cross; lantern painted red. A photo appears above. The original East Quoddy Head Light (officially called the Head Harbour Light) is on Campobello Island, New Brunswick. Located at Lake Havasu State Park's Beach #4, marking the northern entrance to the Bridgewater Channel, about 1/2 mile (800 m) north of London Bridge. Site open, tower closed.

West Quoddy Head Replica

2002. Active; green flash every 1 s. 18 ft (5.5 m) tower, painted with narrow red and white horizontal bands. This light was sponsored by the Lake Havasu Yacht Club; the club's clubhouse includes a faux lighthouse. The original West Quoddy Head Light is the easternmost lighthouse of the U.S., near Lubec, Maine. Located on an island at the west end of the Bridgewater Channel about 1/2 mile (800 m) northwest of London Bridge. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed.

* Robert R. Manning Replica

2003. Active; amber flash every 1 s. 20 ft (6 m) cylindrical stucco-clad frame tower, painted white; lantern is green. The original Manning Light is on Lake Michigan at Empire, Michigan. Located at the entrance to the Crazyhorse Campground Marina off McCulloch Boulevard about 0.5 mile (800 m) southeast of AZ 95 in Lake Havasu City. Site open, tower closed.

* Vermilion Replica

2005. Active; red flash every 1 s. 16 ft (5 m) octagonal stucco tower, painted white with a red band at the base; lantern painted black. This is a replica of the lighthouse on Lake Erie at Vermilion, Ohio. Located on Pittsburgh Point on the northwest coast of Havasu Island about 1.2 miles (2 km) northwest of London Bridge. Site open, tower closed.

* Split Rock Replica

2004. Active; red flash every 1 s. 21 ft (6.5 m) octagonal stucco tower, painted buff with white trim to resemble the stone of the original; lantern painted black. This lighthouse replaced a state-maintained post light, which remains. The original Split Rock Light is on Lake Superior near Beaver Bay, Minnesota. Located at the northwest corner of Havasu Island about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) northwest of London Bridge. Site open, tower closed.

* Alpena Replica

2006. Active; red flash every 1 s. 18 m (5.5 m) square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted red. This light is a replica of an unusual lighthouse on Lake Huron at Alpena, Michigan. Located at the western tip of Havasu Island. Site open, tower closed.

* Lake Havasu Marina

2001(?). Active; amber flash every 1 s. 17 ft (5 m) round concrete block tower, painted white with two narrow red horizontal bands; the lantern roof is also red. This lighthouse is not a replica of a historic light, but it is the inspiration for all the other lights. Located at the marina entrance on Havasu Island off the Bridgewater Channel just south of London Bridge. Site open, tower closed.

* Buffalo Main Replica

2003. Active; green flash every 1 s. 25 ft (8 m) octagonal wood tower, painted buff to resemble the stone of the original; lantern painted black. Located at the south end of the Bridgewater Channel about 1/2 mile (800 m) south of London Bridge. Site open, tower closed.

* Currituck Replica

2004. Active; red flash every 1 s. 21 ft (6.5 m) brick tower. Located on the mainland opposite the marina. Site open, tower closed.

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Posted August 7, 2007. Lighthouses: 10. Site copyright 2007 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.