Lighthouses of Southern New Brunswick

The Canadian province of New Brunswick has two coastlines. The northern coast faces northeast on the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Northumberland Strait, while the southern coast faces southeast on the Bay of Fundy. The two coasts are separated by a narrow isthmus that joins New Brunswick to Nova Scotia. In addition to its coastal lighthouses, the province has lighthouses along the long estuary of the Saint John River, which empties into the Bay of Fundy. This page lists lighthouses of the southern coast and Saint John River; the northern coast is covered on a separate page.

New Brunswick once had well over 100 lighthouses, but modern deactivations have left it with fewer than 50 working towers. A number of the decommissioned lights survive, some of them relocated to new homes. One, the Woody Point Light, was relocated to Nova Scotia.

Sadly, the province's lighthouse preservation society has disbanded. Local preservation efforts are strong in many communities, but there are a number of lighthouses much in need of restoration.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Notmar numbers are from the Atlantic Coast volume of the List of Lights, Buoys, and Fog Signals of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Admiralty numbers are from Volume H of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA numbers are from Publication 110.

General Sources
Lighthouses of the Saint John River
History and photos by Kelly Anne Loughery, published by Lighthouse Digest in January 2003.
Lighthouses in New Brunswick, Canada
Aerial photos posted by Marinas.com.
Grand Manan Lighthouses
History and photos posted by Deborah Daggett.
New Brunswick
Nine 2008 photos by C.W. Bash.
 


Head Harbour Light, Campobello Island, April 2008
Creative Commons photo by Joyce Morrell

Chignecto Bay and Upper Bay of Fundy Lighthouses
* Pecks Point
1890 (relocated to Pecks Point in 1908). Inactive since the 1970s. 6.5 m (22 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern but no gallery, painted white with red trim; lantern roof is red. Kelly Anne Loughery has contributed a historic and a modern photo. This lighthouse was originally built at Wards Point and was relocated to Pecks Point in 1908. After deactivation, the station was sold to members of the Tower family. Both the lighthouse and the keeper's house were relocated near Rockport. Located in or near Rockport; more information is needed. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS CAN-731.
Grindstone Island
1908 (station established 1859). Inactive since 2001. 20.5 m (68 ft) hexagonal concrete tower with six buttresses, lantern and gallery. The original 4° Fresnel lens is now in use at the Saint John Harbour lighthouse replica (see below). Kelly Anne Loughery's photo is at right. The future of this abandoned light station is unclear, and the lighthouse is beginning to deteriorate without maintenance. The island is owned by the Anglican Church of Canada and managed by the Canadian Wildlife Service as a bird sanctuary; access is restricted. Located on an island in Chignecto Bay; visible from nature trails at Mary's Point Bird Sanctuary, at the end of Mary's Point Road off NB 915 at Riverside-Albert. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Shepody National Wildlife Area. ARLHS CAN-711; Admiralty H4046.
* Anderson Hollow (3)
Date uncertain (station established 1889). Inactive for many years. Approx. 9 m (30 ft) square pyramidal wood tower, painted white with red trim. No lantern; the light was shone through a square window. It's interesting that this lighthouse has a fake gallery: a non-functional platform added so that the building presents the traditional pepperpot shape. Roberto Gauvin has a good photo. Originally located on the wharf at Waterside, this lighthouse has been relocated several times. Presently it is an exhibit at the Harvey Bank wharf, a former shipyard now under restoration. Located on Mary's Point Road off NB 915 at Riverside-Albert. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: Harvey Bank Interpretive Centre. ARLHS CAN-704.
**** Cape Enragé (2)
1870 (station established 1838). Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); green flash every 6 s. 9 m (29 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim; lantern is red. Fog horn (three 2 s blasts every 60 s). 2-story wood keeper's house restored, beginning in 1993, by students from Harrison Trimble High School in Moncton. Clayton Morrissey has a good closeup, and a 2008 photo is available. The light station now houses the Cape Enragé Adventure Centre, which offers a variety of activities. Interpretive center and tea room in the keeper's house. Gift shop. A popular tourist stop, Cape Enragé is one of Canada's most successful lighthouse restoration projects. Jeremy D'Entremont wrote a feature article on this light station for the Lighthouse Digest of January 2001, and Deborah Carr has an article on its restoration. In August 2008, the managers of the lighthouse proposed a plan to have the provincial government take over the light station. Located on Barn Marsh Island, which is connected to the mainland by a causeway, south of Alma off NB 915. Parking provided. Site open, tower open to guided tours May through October. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Cape Enragé Adventure Centre. ARLHS CAN-096; Notmar 157; Admiralty H4060; NGA 11064.
*** St. Martins (Quaco Head (2) lantern)
1983. 8 m (26 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim; lantern is red. Craig Stephen has a photo. This faux lighthouse was built to display the lantern of the 1883 Quaco Head Light. It is not a reproduction of the original lighthouse, which was a square tower attached to a keeper's house. The building serves during the summer as the tourist information center for the St. Martins area. Located at 424 Main Street in downtown St. Martins. Site open, tower open for climbing whenever the information center is open. Owner/site manager: Village of St. Martins.
* Quaco Head (3)
1976(?) (station established 1835). Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); white flash every 10 s. 12 m (39 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to one corner of a 1-story concrete fog signal building. Fog horn (3 s blast every 30 s). Lighthouse painted white, lantern and gallery red. The lantern room of the second lighthouse (1883) is preserved atop the faux lighthouse and visitor center at St. Martins, and the Fresnel lens is displayed at the Quaco Museum, also in St. Martins. Clayton Morrissey has a 2008 photo, and Christian Hapgood has a 2008 closeup. Located at the end of West Quaco Road, off NB 111 near St. Martins. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-421; Notmar 150; Admiralty H4076; NGA 11080.


Grindstone Island Light, 2002


Quaco Head Light
photos copyright Kelly Anne Loughery; used by permission


Saint John Harbour Lighthouses
* Cape Spencer (4)
1983 (station established 1873). Active; focal plane 62 m (204 ft); white flash every 11 s. Approx. 12 m (40 ft) fiberglass tower with lantern and gallery. Upper half of the lighthouse painted red, lower half white. Fog horn (three 2 s blasts every 60 s) mounted on approx. Nearby is the 7.5 m (25 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower that carried the light from 1971 to 1983. Two keeper's houses are now used as private residences. Alex Cameron has a 2007 photo, a good 2008 photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. The skeletal tower in the photos carries the fog signal. Located at the end of Red Head Road south of East Saint John. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-109; Notmar 146; Admiralty H4078; NGA 11088.
Partridge Island (4)
1961 (station established 1791). Active; focal plane 35 m (116 ft); white flash every 7.5 s. 14 m (45 ft) octagonal concrete tower with lantern and gallery, vertical sections painted alternately red and white; lantern is red. Robert Foulis has a closeup photo, plus another photo taken from a distance is available, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse is a communications relay station, so it also carries a large microwave antenna. Nearby are foundations of the keeper's house, burned by arsonists in 1999. This is New Brunswick's oldest light station. The original lighthouse burned in 1832. The light station was the site of the world's first steam-powered fog horn in 1859; Lighthouse Digest has a March 2005 article on that invention. The second lighthouse was replaced in 1880; the third was demolished in 1959. Located on an island in Saint John Harbour. Visible from many places around the harbor. Site and tower closed; Coast Guard permission is needed to land on the island. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-365; Notmar 100; Admiralty H4082; NGA 11100.
Courtenay Bay Breakwater
1927. Active; focal plane 13.5 m (44 ft); red flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) octagonal tower; lantern removed. Google has a satellite view. There is also a historic photo from World War II, when coastal defense artillery was installed at the lighthouse. Located at the end of a long breakwater on the east side of Saint John Harbour. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-906; Notmar 104; Admiralty H4083; NGA 11112.
* Saint John Harbour
Late 1980s. Inactive (a decorative light is displayed). 10 m (33 ft) octagonal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern is red. A closeup photo and a second closeup are available, and the lighthouse is in the background of Craig Stephen's photo at right. This lighthouse was built by personnel of the Saint John Coast Guard Base and equipped with a 4° Fresnel lens transferred from the Grindstone Island Light (see above). The lighthouse was not intended as an aid to navigation. Located near the end of the wharf on the base, on Water Street; visible from across Market Slip. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: City of Saint John.
* Digby Wharf NS (relocated to Saint John)
1903. Inactive. 8 m (26 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim. This lighthouse was relocated from the ferry wharf at Digby, Nova Scotia. Craig Stephen's photo is at right. Located on Market Square on Water Street in downtown Saint John, near the Saint John Hilton; Timothy Smith has a nice photo of the square. Site open, tower closed. Owner: unknown. Owner/site manager: City of Saint John. ARLHS CAN-725.

Digby Wharf Light with replica light in the background, Christmas 2000
Creative Commons photo by Craig Stephen

Saint John River Lighthouses
* Swift Point (Green Head)
1869. Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); green light, 2 s on 10 s off. 14 m (46 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim; lantern painted red. A view from the river is available. This lighthouse acts as a leading light marking the western entrance to the Saint John River Gorge; ships bound downstream steer directly towards it to find the proper channel. Located on the west side of the river at the end of a dirt road off Green Head Road on the northwest side of Saint John; the road is gated but the lighthouse is accessible by a walk of about 1.6 km (1 mi). Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-492; Notmar 116.
* Renforth
1980s. Active (privately maintained and unofficial); continuous white light. 6 m (20 ft) octagonal pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern painted red. Alex Cameron has a 2007 photo, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse was built in a small community park near the Renforth Boat Club. Located at the foot of Wharf Street in Renforth, on the east side of the Kennebecasis River (the eastern branch of the Saint John estuary). Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: uncertain.
* McColgan Point
1914. Active; focal plane 12 m (37 ft); white light, 2 s on 10 s off. 8 m (27 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern roof is red. Located on the north side of the Milkish Channel, on the Kingston Peninsula, at the Kennebecasis Island ferry wharf. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-309; Notmar 119.
* Bayswater
1914. Inactive since 2005. 8 m (27 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern roof is red. The light was discontinued in November 2005. Located on the Kingston Peninsula, beside NB 845. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-025; Notmar 120.
* Sand Point
1869. Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); continuous red light. 17.5 m (58 ft) square pyramidal cast iron skeletal tower with enclosed watch room, lantern and gallery. Skeletal portion painted red, watch room and lantern white, lantern roof red. Like the Swift Point Light (above), this is a leading light; ships bound upstream from Saint John steer directly towards it to find the channel to the upper river. Located on Sand Point Wharf Road, between Bayswater and Carter Point. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-445; Notmar 121.
Belyeas Point (2)
1930s (station established 1898). Active; focal plane 14 m (45 ft); green flash every 5 s. 11 m (37 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim; lantern painted red. The lighthouse was rebuilt and slightly relocated following severe floods in the 1930s. Located on the west side of the river at the lower end of the Long Reach, about 3 km (2 mi) north of Westfield. Accessible only by boat, but easily visible from a nearby residential neighborhood. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-031; Notmar 122.
The Cedars
1904. Inactive since 1994. 10 m (32 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim; lantern painted red. Kelly Anne Loughery's photo is at right. In 2006, ownership of the lighthouse was transferred to a local heritage society. In 2008, a walking path was completed, making the lighthouse accessible to the public for the first time. Located on the east side of the Long Reach of the river, off NB 845 in Long Reach, about 10 miles north of the Hardings Point ferry. Accessible by a hiking trail from NB 845 in Long Reach, across the road from the Frances Smith Memorial Hall. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Peninsula Heritage, Inc. ARLHS CAN-124.
* Oak Point (2)
1902 (station established 1869). Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); green light, 2 s on, 8 s off. 14.5 m (48 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on four short concrete pillars. Lighthouse painted white with red trim; lantern painted red. Greg Hickman has a good view from the river, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Formerly modified for use as a gift shop, this lighthouse has been returned to its historic appearance. Located at the tip of Oak Point, on the west side of the Long Reach of the river off NB 102, adjacent to the campground of the Oak Point Provincial Park. Site open, tower closed. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Oak Point Provincial Park. ARLHS CAN-358; Notmar 125.
* Hampstead
1900. Inactive since 1994. 5.5 m (18 ft) square cylindrical tower with lantern. One of the smallest Canadian lighthouses, this abandoned tower has been transferred to the Saint John River Society. Relocated to higher ground in 1999 near the ferry wharf in Hampstead, on the west side of the river just off NB 102. The Saint John River Society has assumed management of the wharf but declined to take responsibility for the lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Saint John River Society. ARLHS CAN-221.
Lower Musquash Island (2)
1924 (station established 1875). Inactive since about 1994. 12 m (37 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern, painted white with red trim; lantern painted red. In July 2008, ownership of the lighthouse was transferred to a community group, Musquash Head Lightstation, Inc., which will work for its restoration. Located near Lower Cambridge on an island in the entrance to Washademoak Lake, which is not a lake but a northeastward branch of the Saint John estuary. Accessible only by boat or a walk of about 2 km (1.25 mi) round trip. Owner/site manager: unknown. ARLHS CAN-333.

The Cedars Light, October 2001
photo copyright Kelly Anne Loughery
used by permission
* Hendry Farm (2)
1896 (station established 1869). Inactive since 1995. 8 m (27 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern, painted white with red trim; lantern painted red. In September 2005, ownership of the lighthouse was transferred to the Village of Cambridge-Narrows. Located on the west side of Washademoak Lake off NB 715 near Cambridge Narrows. Owner/site manager: Village of Cambridge-Narrows. ARLHS CAN-520.
* Gagetown (2)
1958 (station established 1895). Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); continuous green light. 10 m (32 ft) square cylindrical watch room and lantern mounted on a square pyramidal wood skeletal tower. Tower painted white, lantern and gallery red. Located at the Gagetown ferry, on the west side of the river just off NB 102. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-190; Notmar 135.
* [Robertson Point (2)]
Date unknown (station established 1873). Active; focal plane 12 m (40 ft); continuous red light. 7.5 m (25 ft) white cylindrical fiberglass tower. This modern aid replaced a square pyramidal wood tower. Located at White's Cove on Grand Lake. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-432; Notmar 137.
* Wilmot Bluff
1869. Inactive since 1969. 13 m (42 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim; lantern roof is red. An indistinct Google satellite view probably shows the lighthouse. Located on Thatch Road off NB 102 near the Fredericton airport. Site and tower closed (private property), but the lighthouse is easy to see from the road. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS CAN-734.

South Coast and Passamaquoddy Bay Lighthouses
* Musquash Head (2)
1959 (station established 1879). Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); white flash every 3 s. 14 m (46 ft) octagonal concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with a single red horizontal band; lantern is also red. Fog horn (4 s blast every 60 s). Justin Howe has a closeup, a wider view is available, and Google has a satellite view. A hiking trail built in the 1990s provides public access to this formerly isolated station. Located at the end of a dirt road off King William Road at the eastern entrance to Musquash Harbour near Lorneville; accessible by a hike of about 1.5 km (1 mi) round trip. Parking available. Site open, tower closed. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Lorneville Community and Recreation Association. ARLHS CAN-332; Notmar 97; Admiralty H4096; NGA 11148.
Point Lepreau (3)
1959 (station established 1831). Active; focal plane 25.5 m (84 ft); white flash every 3 s. 17.5 m (58 ft) octagonal concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands; lantern is red. Fog horn (three 2 s blasts every 60 s). Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse marks one of the most prominent points on the Bay of Fundy coastline. Located on the grounds of the Point Lepreau nuclear generating station. Site and tower closed. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: New Brunswick Power. ARLHS CAN-390; Notmar 90; Admiralty H4108; NGA 11160.
* Lighthouse Point (Drews Head, Beaver Harbour) (2)
1984 (station established 1875). Active; focal plane 14.5 m (47 ft); white light, 7 s on, 8 s off. 8 m (28 ft) fiberglass tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern is red. 1-story fog signal building. Fog horn (6 s blast every 60 s). Sibling of Cape Spencer Light (above). Bash has a foggy 2008 photo, and Google has a satellite view. A photo of the original lighthouse is also available. Located beyond the end of Lighthouse Road, off Main Street in Beaver Harbour; accessible by a walk of about 800 m (1/2 mi) round trip. Limited parking. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-162; Notmar 83; Admiralty H4112; NGA 11184.
Pea Point (2)
1965 (station established 1878). Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); continuous white light. 10 m (34 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from one corner of a 1-story concrete fog signal building. Fog horn (two 3 s blasts every 60 s). Kevin Scherer has a 2008 photo. Located on a small island near the Grand Manan Island ferry terminal near Black's Harbour. Although it is possible to walk to the lighthouse at low tide, treacherous footing and rapidly changing tides make this hazardous. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-366; Notmar 81; Admiralty H4114; NGA 11192.
Southwest Wolf Island (2)
1982 (station established 1871). Active; focal plane 39 m (128 ft); white flash every 10 s. 8 m (28 ft) fiberglass tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern is red. Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located on the southern tip of the island in the Wolf Islands off the mouth of Passamaquoddy Bay. Accessible only by boat; visible distantly from the Grand Manan ferry and from Head Harbour Light on Campobello Island (see below). Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-470; Notmar 36; Admiralty H4110; NGA 11172.
Bliss Island (2)
1964 (station established 1871). Active; focal plane 15.5 m (51 ft); red flash every 4 s. 12 m (38 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from one corner of a 1-story concrete fog signal building. G. McCracken has a good closeup photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located on the southwest point of the island in the entrance to Bliss Harbour. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-045; Notmar 77; Admiralty H4118; NGA 11200.
*** L'Etete Passage (Green's Point)
1903 (fog signal station established 1879). Inactive since 1999 (fog signal remains active). 12 m (39 ft) octagonal pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim. Fog signal (3 s blast every 30 s). Bash's photo is at right, another 2008 photo is available, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. The station guards the passage between Deer Island and the mainland. The keeper's house is now a museum displaying items of lighthouse and local maritime history. The nearby 1-story Coast Guard monitoring station is available for vacation rental. In July 2008, the Coast Guard transferred ownership of the lighthouse to the Green's Point Light Association. Located on the point, a peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus neer the Deer Island ferry terminal in L'Etete. Site open, museum open daily in the summer, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Greens Point Light Association. ARLHS CAN-214; Notmar 71; Admiralty H4120; NGA 11208.
L'Etete Passage Light
L'Etete Passage Light, July 2008
Creative Commons photo copyright C.W. Bash
* St. Andrews (Pendlebury)
1833. Inactive since 1938. Approx. 9 m (30 ft) octagonal pyramidal wood tower, painted white. Lantern removed; the tower has a pyramidal red cap. As of early 2002 this historic and long-abandoned lighthouse was in poor condition, as was the seawall that supported it. The lighthouse ranked #1 on the former NBLHS Endangered List. In July 2002 the St. Andrews Civic Trust relocated the tower about 15 m (50 ft) from the seawall so that it could be restored, a project expected to cost $200,000. Eventually the seawall is to be repaired and the restored lighthouse returned to its original location, possibly to be relit. However, a 2005 closeup photo and Clayton Morissey's 2007 photo do not show any change, although Kelly Goodingham's closeup shows a sign announcing restoration to come. Located at the end of Patrick Street in St. Andrews, adjacent to a restaurant. Site open, tower closed. Owner: St. Andrews Civic Trust. Site manager: Village of St. Andrews. ARLHS CAN-714.

Deer and Campobello Islands Lighthouses
Note: Deer Island and Campobello Islands are substantial islands in the mouth of Passamaquoddy Bay close to the U.S. border. Deer Island is about 13 km (8 mi) long and is accessible by ferries from L'Etete and from Eastport, Maine. Another ferry operates between Deer Island and Campobello Island. Campobello is larger, about 16 km (10 mi) long; it is accessible by the ferry from Deer Island and by bridge from Lubec, Maine.
Leonardville
1914. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); continuous white light. 8 m (28 ft) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim. Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located on a cliff and the entrance to Leonardville Harbour, on the east side of Deer Island. Island accessible by ferry (free) from L'Etete. Site and tower closed (private property) but the lighthouse can be seen from NB 772 through trees. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-274; Notmar 46; Admiralty H4146; NGA 11264.
* Head Harbour (East Quoddy Head)
1829. Active; focal plane 17.5 m (58 ft); continuous red light. 15.5 m (51 ft) octagonal pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, connected to a keeper's house by a covered walkway. Fog signal building (1914) and other light station buildings. Fog horn (4 s blast every 60 s). Lighthouse painted white with one red vertical stripe and one red horizontal band forming the pattern of St. George's Cross, the symbol of England. Joyce Morrell's photo appears at the top of this page, the friends group has a huge portfolio of photos on Flickr.com, a fine 2008 photo is available, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. New Brunswick's oldest lighthouse, one of Canada's best known and most photographed lighthouses, and one of the few light stations in the province that has all its original structures. The Friends of Head Harbour Lightstation are working to improve access and restore the buildings. In 2006 the Friends painted the entire light station. Photos of their current activities are usually available. Located on a rocky islet off the northernmost point of Campobello Island, which is accessible by bridge from Lubec, Maine. Site open; access to the light station is by a narrow sandbar covered by water at high tide, so care is required. Tower closed. Owner/site manager: Friends of Head Harbour Lightstation. ARLHS CAN-166; Notmar 44; Admiralty H4154; NGA 11332.
* Mulholland Point
1885. Inactive since approx. 1962. 13.5 m (44 ft) octagonal pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern is red. Bash has a 2008 photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. This lighthouse is well maintained by the Roosevelt Campobello International Park Commission. Picnic area adjacent to the tower. Located on the west side of Campobello Island adjacent to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Bridge, which connects the island to Lubec, Maine. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Roosevelt Campobello International Park. ARLHS CAN-326.

Mulholland Point Light
photo copyright Kelly Anne Loughery
used by permission

Grand Manan Island Area Lighthouses
Note: Grand Manan Island is larger than either Deer or Campobello. About 30 km (19 mi) long, it lies in the Bay of Fundy about 12 km (7.5 mi) southeast of West Quoddy Head, Maine. The island is accessible year-round by ferry from Blacks Harbour.
* Long Eddy Point
1966 (fog signal station established 1871). Active; focal plane 38.5 m (126 ft); red flash every 8 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from one corner of a 1-story concrete fog signal building. Lighthouse painted white with red trim; lantern is red. Fog horn (4 s blast every 60 s). Marinas.com has aerial photos. The fog signal station was known for generations as "The Whistle." Located at the northern tip of Grand Manan Island. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-283; Notmar 34; Admiralty H4166; NGA 11360.
* Swallowtail
1860. Active; focal plane 37 m (122 ft); white light, 4 s on, 2 s off. 16 m (53 ft) octagonal pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with red trim; lantern is red. Fog horn (2 s blast every 20 s). The keeper's house, restored by a movie production company in 1996, is now a bed and breakfast inn. This historic light, fifth oldest in New Brunswick, has been in need of restoration. In fall 2004 the lighthouse was painted by the Grand Manan Rotary Club and other volunteers. The building looked fine in a photo taken after the painting, but a 2006 photo shows how quickly the paint weathers. The photo at right shows a second repainting, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. In March 2008, the village of Grand Manan briefly put the keeper's house up for sale, but after public outcry the sale was cancelled. The ferry from Blacks Harbour passes the lighthouse on arriving. Located off Old Airport Road at the end of a rocky peninsula north of North Head; accessible by a short hike. Parking provided. Site open, keeper's house open to guests June through October, tower closed. Owner: Canadian Coast Guard. Site manager: Swallowtail Inn. ARLHS CAN-491; Notmar 33; Admiralty H4168; NGA 11364.
Great Duck Island
1966 (fog signal station established 1886). Active; focal plane 15 m (50 ft); white flash every 10 s. Approx. 11 m (35 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from one corner of a 1-story fog signal building. Lighthouse painted white with red trim; lantern is red. Fog horn (4 s blast every 60 s). Daggett has a page with historic photos, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Note: there are also Great Duck Island lighthouses in Ontario and in Maine. Located at the south end of the island off the east coast of Grand Manan Island near Woodward's Cove. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-210; Notmar 29; Admiralty H4174; NGA 11384.

Swallowtail Light, August 2006
anonymous Creative Commons photo
Grand Harbour
1879. Inactive since 1963. Square pyramidal wood tower attached to 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. The abandoned lighthouse is collapsing in ruins. Once called "the most endangered lighthouse in North America," it has become a lost cause. "Saving" it now would mean practically rebuilding it from scratch. Hans Raffelt has an August 2006 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and a June 2008 photo shows the lighthouse still standing, but barely. Daggett has a page with historic photos. Located on Ross Island, accessible from Grand Harbour, Grand Manan Island, at low tide. However, the island is privately owned and the lighthouse is too dangerous to enter if indeed it is still standing. Site closed. owner/site manager: private. ARLHS CAN-709.
* Long Point
1966 (fog signal station established 1929). Active; focal plane 15.5 m (51 ft); white light, 6 s on, 6 s off. 11 m (37 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from one corner of a 1-story fog signal building. Lighthouse painted white with red trim; lantern is red. Fog horn (2 s blast every 20 s). A foggy photo is available, and Marinas.com has aerial photos.Located on the southern end of White Head Island southeast of Grand Manan Island; accessible by ferry from Grand Manan. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-644; Notmar 25; Admiralty H4178; NGA 11400.
Gannet Rock
1831 (John Purvis). Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); white flash every 6 s. 23 m (75 ft) octagonal pyramidal wood tower attached to 2-story stone keeper's house. Lighthouse painted with black and white vertical stripes; lantern is red. Fog horn (three 2 s blasts every 60 s). The lantern is modern (1967). A 2° Fresnel lens formerly used in the lighthouse is on display at the Grand Manan Museum in Grand Harbour. Lighthouse Digest has an account of life on the rock by the daughter of a former keeper, Daggett has a page with photos and historucal information,and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Staffed until 1996, this historic lighthouse has deteriorated sadly since it was automated. However, the Coast Guard began an extensive restoration is 2003. Located on a bare, half-acre island about 10 km (6 mi) southeast of Southwest Head. Accessible only by boat in very dangerous seas; landing on the island is difficult. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-192; Admiralty H4188; Notmar 8; NGA 11416.
* Southwest Head (2)
1959 (station established 1880). Active; focal plane 48 m (157 ft); white flash every 10 s. 9 m (30 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from one corner of a 1-story fog signal building. Lighthouse painted white with red trim; lantern is red. Fog horn (6 s blast every 60 s). A tall communications tower nearby dwarfs the lighthouse. A foggy closeup is available, Jake Wellington has a distant view, Daggett has a page with historic photos, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located at the end of NB 776 and at the brink of a vertical cliff on the southwestern point of Grand Manan Island. Site open (be careful), tower closed. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-469; Notmar 11; Admiralty H4186; NGA 11436.

Gannet Rock Light
photo copyright Kelly Anne Loughery; used by permission
Machias Seal Island (2)
1915 (station established 1832). Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white flash every 3 s. 18 m (60 ft) octagonal concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern is red. Fog horn (two 3 s blasts every 60 s). Two 1-story Coast Guard buildings (1950s) with red roofs. Ed Karjala has posted a closeup photo. Machias Seal Island is a small (7 ha; 15 acre) island about 19 km (12 mi) southwest of Grand Manan Island and 12 km (7.5 mi) southeast of Cutler, Maine. The island is claimed by both the U.S. and Canada. This dispute is more than 200 years old and is quite amicable on the whole, but to assert Canadian sovereignty the Coast Guard staffs this station year round, with rotating crews serving for four weeks each. The station and lighthouse are powered by a large array of solar panels. The island is also an important bird nesting area and both countries recognize it as a wildlife preserve. Located on the highest point of the island. Accessible only by boat; ecotours are available from Seal Cove on Grand Manan and from Cutler and Jonesport, Maine. Owner/site manager: Canadian Coast Guard. ARLHS CAN-292; Notmar 6; Admiralty H4192; NGA 11444.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

  • Fredericton (1989?) has a museum, but it is not a working lighthouse.
  • Grand Anse (early 1990s) is not an accurate representation of a historic light.

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Posted September 8, 2003; checked and revised September 8, 2008. Lighthouses: 43. Site copyright 2008 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.