Lighthouse Pictures

Our lighthouse pictures gallery features photos of lighthouses from the rocky Atlantic coast of North America. From Cape Elizabeth in Maine to Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia, these lighthouse images showcase beautiful buildings on wild, rugged seashores. Lighthouse photos are perfect for inspiration or setting a mood.

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Cape Bonavista Light In Newfoundland CanadaCape Bonavista Light in Newfoundland is one of the most unique lighthouses that we have had the opportunity to photograph. This highly sought after lighthouse made the keepers job much easier as the house was built around the lighthouse so the keeper did not have to worry about getting lost on his walk from his home to the lighthouse.

Today, the steel structure next to the candy cane building provides the light. The red and white building has been converted into a historic museum, showcasing artifacts from before 1870. The Cape Bonavista Light lighthouse began operating in 1843. It is the fourth-oldest lighthouse in the province of Newfoundland.

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Heceta Head Light At SunsetHeceta Head Lighthouse at sunset. This photo was taken by from the air to gain a unique perspective of this beautiful setting.

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Portland Head Light With Breaking WavesThe Portland Head Light on Cape Elizabeth helps guide ships into this treacherous harbor. The breaking waves around the cape look blurry in this shot due to a slightly longer-than-normal exposure time on the Nikon camera used to capture this picture of a lighthouse.

The Portland Head Light is one of Maine's most iconic lighthouses, and was featured in the U.S. State Quarter program to represent Maine.

Another lighthouse can be seen in the distance, across the bay. This notorious, shallow water has no doubt been the grave of many an early mariner.

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Sunset On Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse In Acadia National ParkThe sun sets over the cliff side Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse in Acadia National Park. The sunset casts the sky in a beautiful gradient of blue and red, throwing light onto the rocky shore below the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse.

The Bass Harbor Head lighthouse was built in 1858. The Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse is made out of brick and is colloquially known as the Bar Harbor Lighthouse. Like almost all lighthouses today, the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse is now automated.

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Bar Harbor Lighthouse In Acadia MaineThe Bar Harbor Lighthouse seen against a beautiful pastel sunset.

The Bar Harbor Lighthouse is also known by the name Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. This is because the light is one of the main landmarks in the small village of Bass Harbor.

This old lighthouse was built in 1858, and is located along the rocky shoreline of Acadia National Park, Maine. The Bar Harbor Lighthouse Keeper's house is currently occupied by a U.S. Coast Guard member and their family.

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Black And White Landscape With Portland Head LightBlack and White Portland Head Light - Cape Elizabeth is the home of the Portland Head Light. This grey scale image captures the Portland Head lighthouse at sunset. A longer exposure was used to create the blurred effect on the receding waves.

A second lighthouse can be seen far off in the background, marking another dangerous sandbar for sailors.

This black and white image of the Portland Head Light is also available in a color version on the Shetzer's stock image site.

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Peggy’s Point Light At Civil TwilightA clear blue day in Nova Scotia is rare, but provides a beautiful backdrop for the scenic lighthouse in Peggy's Cove.

A lighthouse was first built on the shores of Peggy's Cove in 1868. The first Peggy's Point Light used a kerosene lamp and a catoptric reflector to help sailors avoid smashing their ships on the rocky coast. Today, the lighthouse is automated and uses a standard red lighthouse light. Peggy's Point Light is operated by the Canadian Coast Guard, as it still provides a valuable navigation aid to ships moving through the area.

Peggy's Point Light is 50 feet tall and stands on an isolated outcropping of rock.

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Pemaquid Point Light Reflection In A PuddlePemaquid Point Light reflection in a puddle - The sea shore near lighthouses often collects small puddles of water such as this one. This photo shows an image of the Pemaquid Point Light on a perfectly still and clear day. The reflection in a puddle was carefully composed and rotated.

The Pemaquid Point Light is a Maine landmark. Many photographers make the trek from far and wide to photograph the Pemaquid Point Light. This unique image puts unique spin on the Pemaquid Point Light by depicting it as a reflection in a puddle.

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Pemaquid Point Lighthouse And ReflectionThe Pemaquid Point Lighthouse was originally built with a parabolic reflector as a light which was lit by candles and had a visibility of 2 miles. In the early 1850s, Augustin Fresnel invented a superior way to focus light which could be seen as far as 20 miles away. Upon widespread understanding of Fresnel's breakthrough, the majority of US lighthouses switched to Fresnel lenses.

Many more technological breakthroughs followed, and today, thanks to the advent of GPS and other modern navigation technology, lights such as the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse are nowhere near as essential as they used to be.

Today most modern lighthouses, including the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, use modern high powered lights and are controlled by automated computer systems. Although a keeper once lived in the house nearby the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, today it is nothing but an uninhabited historical attraction.

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Striped Lighthouse Cape Hatteras LightThe swirly, striped lighthouse is the Cape Hatteras Light. Located in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the Cape Hatteras Light is a very visually distinctive structure. The striped lighthouse is the second oldest still operating lighthouse in the United States.

The lighthouse was built in 870 and has operated ever since, with the exception of during the civil war (when Confederate troops dismantled the lens) and 1999 (when the structure was moved due to eroding coastline).

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Sunset Over Ocean At Peggys Cove CanadaPeggy's Point Lighthouse stands proudly in front of a gorgeous sunset over the ocean here at Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia, Canada. This small lighthouse is located along the borders of Margaret's Bay, near Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The small town near this lighthouse has a population of 40.

Coastal sunsets over the ocean are amazing things to watch. The color and reflectivity of the water will often supercharge the colors in the sky, resulting in incredibly vibrant sunsets which fill the whole sky.

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Cape Meares Light At SunsetThe Cape Meares Light on the Oregon coast with the sunset and Pacific Ocean in the background. Originally called Cape Lookout by Captain John Meares, this name was mistakenly given to another cape nearby. Years later, to avoid confusion, this was renamed after the Captain himself.

It is actually the Shortest Lighthouse in Oregon standing at 38 feet tall. Still, the light from this shortest lighthouse could be seen up to 21 nautical miles out to sea. This amazing architecture has been maintained and is now part of the Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint.

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Eldred Rock Lighthouse In Front Of A MountainThis majestic lighthouse in front of a mountain is the Eldred Rock Lighthouse in Haines, Alaska.

On the journey from Juneau to Haines, Alaska, the Alaskan Marine Highway System ferry passes the Eldred Rock Light. This lighthouse was built in 1906. Due to the gold rush of Skagway, the Lynn Canal had four manned lighthouses to guide ships coming to this valuable port.

The Eldred Rock Lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

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Sunset Behind Peggy’s Point Lighthouse In Nova ScotiaThe octagonal shape of Peggy's Cove's lighthouse is one of the most recognizable lighthouses in the world. The lighthouse is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Nova Scotia, and is photographed by many people every year.

In this image, the setting sun behind Peggy's Point provides a glorious backdrop to highlight the unique rocky coastline of Nova Scotia. The water stretches almost to the horizon, allowing this beautiful red, yellow and orange sunset to fill the sky with its color.

The Peggy's Point Light is still operated by the Canadian Coast Guard to assist mariners. The waves in Peggy's Cove are extremely hazardous and unpredictable, occasionally claiming the lives of sightseers on the shore.

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Terrible Tilly Tillamook Rock LightTillamook Rock Light, also know as Terrible Tilly, is 2 miles off the Oregon Coast

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A Look Inside The Cape Blanco LighthouseA view from inside the Cape Blanco Lighthouse Fresnel shows the vast windows that surround the light. The Cape Blanco Lighthouse sits on the Oregon coast.

Since Cape Blanco Lighthouse is located on an almost inaccessible part of the Oregon coast, all the supplies to build it had to be made locally or ferried in by ship. It’s the oldest continually operating light in Oregon, and in 1903, had the state’s first female keeper.

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A Light Above The WaterHeceta Head Light on the hillside above the water.

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Cape Hatteras LightThe Cape Hatteras Light is only one of the many lighthouses that protect shipping along the outer banks of North Carolina. These coasts can be rather rocky and treacherous, so many lighthouses are needed to protect mariners sailing close to shore, coming in and out of ports. For the landlocked tourist however, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore offers many opportunities for beautiful sights.

This lighthouse is one of the tallest in the world, coming in at over 200 feet in height. The Cape Hatteras Light was moved 1,500 feet from its original location in 1999. The move was necessary due to eroding shoreline. nonetheless, moving the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was the subject of much national debate, the history of which can be researched at several places on the Internet.

Today the Cape Hatteras Light stands safely inland, configured as close as possible to the original setup. It is open to the public, and tourists can climb all the way to the top for great views of the coast and surrounding areas.

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Cape Neddick Light AKA The Nubble LightThe Cape Neddick Light is located in York, Maine. It is now of many lighthouses that dot the coast of Maine, protecting sailors from the area's frequent rain, fog, and wind.

The Cape Neddick Light is sometimes known as the Nubble Light, or "the Nubble." A photograph of the Cape Neddick Light is included on the Voyager Spacecraft.

The two-story building next to the Nubble Light is the keeper's house, where the lighthouse operator would live and sleep.

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Dyrhólaey Lighthouse Photo With DroneA splendid lighthouse photo at Dyrhólaey. The ancient and primordial landscape in the backdrop is offset by the giant red lamp of the lighthouse and drone hovering nearby. Architectural and landscape picture taken near Vik, Iceland.

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Heceta Head Light Aerial ImageHeceta Head lighthouse located in Oregon photographed from the air.

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Peggys Point Light Of Nova ScotiaA blood red sunset illuminates the sky behind Peggy's Point Light. This sunset appears so vibrant due to the combination of perfect cloud cover and the reflective ocean surface. The water behind Peggy's Point Light reflects the red sun, and the clouds in the sky catch the light, giving this image its character. The color palette of the sky matches the red topper on Peggy's Point Light.

Located on the scenic Lighthouse Trail in Nova Scotia, Peggy's Point Light is a favorite tourist attraction for those visiting Halifax. Although only built in 1914, this lighthouse is one of the most photographed lighthouses in Canada. Here we witnessed a rare but spectacular sunset lighting up the entire sky behind the lighthouse.

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Sailors Delight At Peggys CoveThere is an old saying "Red sky at night, sailor's delight, red sky in morning, sailor's warning." We had the delight of seeing this gorgeous red sunset over Peggy's Cove from shore, so we didn't have to worry about the veracity of the old rhyme.

Peggy's Point Light can be seen in the foreground of the photo. This iconic lighthouse helped guide sailors into Peggy's Cove for over 150 years.

Peggy's Cove is located on the Eastern coast of St. Margarets Bay, Nova Scotia.

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Terrible Tilly LighthouseTerrible Tilly Lighthouse off the coast of Canon Beach in Oregon.

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Bodie Lighthouse And The Keepers HouseThe Bodie Lighthouse is a beautiful lighthouse whose light can be seen for 18 nautical miles. The Bodie Lighthouse was built in 1872, and still stands today (although it has been renovated several times). The previous lighthouse which had stood on the point was destroyed by Confederate troops to deny Union soldiers a strategic observation point during the Civil War.

A bold black and white color palette denies the Bodie Lighthouse. The lighthouse was restored between 2009 and 2013, and is now open to the public. The keeper's house has been converted into a museum, and a modern staircase has been installed inside the Bodie Lighthouse itself so that visitors can climb to the top of the tower.

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Heceta Head Lighthouse From DroneHeceta Head Lighthouse photographed from the air.

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The Light Keepers View Of Marshall Point MaineThe Lightkeeper's View - Connected to land by a narrow wooden walkway, the Marshall Point Lighthouse Station is a key navigational aid to boats entering Port Clyde harbor. The Marshall Point Lighthouse was featured in the movie "Forrest Gump."

This photo of the Marshall Point Lighthouse was taken from the keeper's house. Before lighthouses were automated, a keeper used to live on the grounds. This keeper was responsible for lighting the Fresnel Lens at night or during poor weather. The keeper was responsible for all upkeep and maintenance of the lighthouse and grounds.

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Rose Blanche Lighthouse Of NewfoundlandThis foggy lighthouse is the Rose Blanche Light in Canada. The Rose Blanche Lighthouse was built in 1873. Its age shows in its quaint construction. Some sailors and locals complained that the granite construction of the lighthouse caused it to bend into the fog, so the sides facing the ocean were painted with red and white stripes, which cannot be seen form this angle. The foggy lighthouse is somewhat hard to see though— it is understandable why the stripes had to be painted on.

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Sunset Behind The Portland Breakwater LightA gorgeous sunset casts an ethereal glow over Portland, Maine. The Portland Breakwater Light can be seen in the foreground. This stout little light is sometimes referred to as the "Bug Light."

The Portland Breakwater Light is often the site of spectacular sunrises and sunsets. The Portland Breakwater Light has been made obsolete by recent advances in navigation and landscaping, but the light is a local tourist attraction. A nearby park is a popular tourist attraction.

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Tillamook Rock LightTillamook Rock Light, and abandoned lighthouse off the Oregon Coast.

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Heceta Head Lighthouse ImageHeceta Head Lighthouse photographed from the air. Heceta Head is a beautiful light perched high up on the cliffs in Oregon.

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White Picket Fence With Ocracoke LighthouseBuilt in 1823, the Ocracoke lighthouse is the oldest operating lighthouse in North Carolina, and the second oldest operating lighthouse in the entire United States. It stands 76 feet tall and uses its powerful Fresnel Lens to protect the boats sailing around the Hatteras islands.

The lighthouse grounds is protected by this quaint symbol of Americana, the white picket fence. The white picket fence boxes in the two-acre plot on which the lighthouse sits.

The entire lighthouse complex was moved in 1999 when the structure was threatened by eroding shoreline.

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Cape Bonavista Lighthouse In NewfoundlandThe Cape Boavista Light is one of the most distinctive lighthouses in Newfoundland. The signature candy-cane coloring makes this building a real treat to take photos of.

The light is built on top of the keeper's house, a rare and unique design. Usually the lighthouse and the keeper's house would be separate structures.

Today, the light itself is housed in the steel structure visible behind and slightly to the left of the old light.

This was one of our favorite lighthouses in Newfoundland that we visited on our trip.

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Snæfellsnes Peninsula IcelandThe Svörtuloft at Snæfellsnes Peninsula is home to the bright orange lighthouse in Iceland. This lighthouse can be seen from miles away.

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Cape Hatteras Lighthouse At SunsetThe Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in North America. The lighthouse stands 193 feet (59 meters) tall. The Cape Hatteras Light protects ships from being run aground into a 12-mile sandbar called The Diamond Shoals. The currents near this sandbar are so dangerous that the area has been nicknamed "the graveyard of the Atlantic."

Hundreds of ships were wrecked in the area before the construction of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

The Lighthouse itself was moved in 1999 due to the continued erosion of the beach upon which it was originally established.

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Ocracoke Lighthouse Framed Inside White Picket Fence GateA short ferry ride takes you from the main islands of Hatteras, North Carolina, to the sleepy island and town of Ocracoke. This brick lighthouse is the oldest operating light on the outer banks and serves as a beacon for all those returning to the harbor.

Here the Ocracoke Light can be seen framed through that most American of images: a white picket fence. The island and town of Ocracoke, North Carolina is a quiet, sleepy place. The Ocracoke Lighthouse is the oldest remaining structure on the island. The lighthouse and keeper's house were built in 1823 for the (relatively) paltry cost of $12,000.

The Ocracoke Lighthouse is the second-oldest continually operating lighthouse in the U.S., behind only the Sandy Hook Light in New Jersey.

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Lighthouse Picture Of Dyrhólaey In Iceland By DroneDyrhólaey lighthouse picture shot on Iceland photo tour. An enchanting image capturing the whimsy of this land. Shaped like a castle tower, this lighthouse oversees the misty coast, as the rugged landscape dissolves in the background.

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Ocracoke Light With White Picket FenceThe Ocracoke Light was built in 1823, after a nearby lighthouse was rendered obsolete due to shifting ocean currents. The lighthouse occupies a small two-acre parcel of land, with the white picket fence enclosing a lawn, shed, and keeper's house (also built in 1823). The site is open for visitation, but the lighthouse cannot currently be climbed.

The Ocracoke light is located on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. Ocracoke Island is a quiet, relaxed location, with a small town and population of locals. The lighthouse is the community's main claim to fame.

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Pemaquid Point Light With ReflectionThe photo shows a reflection of the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse in a puddle on the rocky shoreline. This image captures all of the elements of a lighthouse: The light itself; the water, representing the sea on which ships sail; and the rocky shoreline which the lighthouse protects mariners from wrecking against.

This reflection of pemaquid point is thus a very symbolically relevant image. The visual symbolism encapsulates all aspects of a lighthouse.

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