New Brunswick Lighthouses stand as guardians of ships navigating the rugged coastline and island-strewn waters, bringing the province's maritime heritage to life for decades. These historic beacons, among the many New Brunswick attractions, have been guiding vessels, warning of dangers, and offering breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and Bay of Fundy shores since the construction of the Saint Andrews Lighthouse in 1833. Among the 750 lighthouses scattered across the Canadian coastline, New Brunswick boasts a proud collection of 78 of these majestic structures, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia. Let's look into some of the notable lighthouses that grace this maritime province:
Guiding Lights
1. Cape Enrage Lighthouse
Located on the Bay of Fundy, near the village of Alma, the Cape Enrage Lighthouse has been guiding ships since 1838 and the light and foghorn are still operational. The lighthouse provides stunning views of the surrounding cliffs and the powerful tidal movements in the bay.
2. Swallowtail Lighthouse
Situated on Grand Manan Island, off the coast of southwestern New Brunswick, the Swallowtail Lighthouse is one of the province's most iconic lighthouses. Still an active aid to navigation, it was built in 1860 and has since become a symbol of the island's maritime heritage.
3. Machias Seal Island Lighthouse
Found on Machias Seal Island, a disputed territory between Canada and the United States, this 65ft tall lighthouse serves as an important navigational aid for ships in the area. With graceful, simple, and aesthetically pleasing balanced proportions, its design recalls the classically-inspired tripartite division of base, shaft, and capital popular in early 20th-century architecture.
4. Partridge Island Lighthouse
Located on Partridge Island, near the entrance to Saint John Harbor, this lighthouse has guided ships since the early 19th century. Perched on a hilltop, surrounded by a circle trees, the Partridge Island Light Tower stands as a dominant maritime symbol. The island's historical significance also includes serving as an immigration quarantine station during the Irish famine in the mid-1800s.
5. Miscou Island Lighthouse
Situated on Miscou Island, this lighthouse was built in 1856 with the aim of reducing shipping accidents at the southern entrance to Chaleur Bay. Soaring to an impressive height of almost 25 meters, it proudly holds the distinction of being the second tallest lighthouse in the Maritimes. Its distinctive black and white stripes add to its allure, making it easily recognizable to passing mariners. Recognizing its historical significance, in 1974, this remarkable structure was designated as a national historic site of Canada.
6. Anderson Hollow Lighthouse
Anderson Hollow Lighthouse, the most traveled beacon in New Brunswick, was first operational in 1889, with Reverend S.C. Moore as its initial keeper. Located at Anderson's Hollow, Chignecto Channel, this fixed red light, visible for 6 miles, guided vessels into a harbor of refuge. Despite enduring multiple storms and reconstructions, it stood resilient until 1903 when a new, stronger lighthouse was built onshore to replace it permanently.
7. Bayswater Lighthouse
Bayswater and McColgan Point Lighthouses, only 2.8 km apart, were both constructed in 1913 by B.R. Palmer. Equipped differently with fifth and sixth-order lenses respectively, these nearly identical towers had initial costs of $825 and $700. Bayswater, which also features a 1920s covered bridge over Milkish Creek, was deactivated in 2005. In 2018, it was designated a Heritage Lighthouse, reflecting its cultural significance and community efforts to preserve it.
8. Cocagne Lighthouse
In the seventeenth century, Nicolas Denys, an explorer in New France, described the abundant natural resources of Cocagne Harbour in present-day New Brunswick, naming it "River of Cocagne." Over the centuries, Cocagne thrived, evolving into a hub for shipbuilding, sawmills, and a cheese factory by the 19th century. In 1907, the area welcomed the installation of a wooden salt-shaker tower to improve navigation, though it was discontinued in 2018. Today, this historical tower, no longer active, is easily accessible on Route 134 near Cocagne Bridge. Visitors can enjoy picnic tables on-site, with a fish market, gift shop, and jewelry store just across the road.
9. Dixon Point Lighthouse
Active since 1919, Dixon Point Lighthouse marks the entrance to Bouctouche Harbour in New Brunswick. The station underwent an environmental cleanup and repainting in 2008. This 30-foot tall front range light, which flashes every 5 seconds, aids navigation through the Northumberland Strait, blending historical charm with essential maritime utility.
10. The Lighthouse by 540
Discover the best viewpoint in Fredericton at The Lighthouse, situated downtown with stunning views of the Saint John River. Enjoy a selection of NB craft beers and your favorite dishes. Complete your visit with a treat from our diverse range of ice cream flavours.
11. Southwest Head Lighthouse
In 1876, John H. Harding, agent for New Brunswick's Department of Marine, identified the need for a lighthouse at Grand Manan's southwest point. This led to the construction of the Southwest Head Lighthouse by Angus W. Fisher in 1879, after an awarded contract in 1878. The lighthouse was operational from February 1880, despite initial misorientation and construction issues, ultimately costing $4,164.
12. Richiboucto Head Lighthouse
In 1857, New Brunswick's Assembly authorized £250 for a lighthouse at Richibucto Head, funding split between the Buoy and Beacon Fund and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence Light House Fund. However, construction was delayed until 1863 when Amos Keith built the lighthouse for $592. Officially lit in 1865, the Richibucto Head Lighthouse, with a fourth-order lens, served navigational needs well, despite initial delays and modifications due to maintenance issues.
13. Quaco Lighthouse
The Quaco Head Lighthouse, pivotal in New Brunswick's maritime history, was first established in 1835 near St. Martins, originally known as Quaco. It replaced the initial plan for a simple beacon on the hazardous Quaco Ledges. Constructed to enhance navigation safety in the Bay of Fundy, the lighthouse featured an octagonal tower with a distinctive red and white striped pattern and a revolving light system, requiring manual winding every four hours. Over the years, the lighthouse underwent several upgrades, including enhancements to its lighting apparatus and structural reinforcements to combat erosion and storm damage, affirming its critical role in maritime safety.
14. Pointe-Sapin Lighthouse
Originally named Pointe-aux-Sapins for its fir trees, Pointe Sapin attracted settlers in 1860 due to fertile soil and rich fisheries. In 1903, a pole light was installed to aid fishermen, elevated 50 feet to be visible for 12 miles. By 1910, this was replaced with a 27-foot-tall lighthouse, now displaying a fixed yellow light, indicating the proper approach to the harbor with its companion skeleton tower marked by red stripes.
15. Pointe-du-Chêne Range
Shediac's historical backdrop includes its tenure as a pivotal port, with the Pointe-du-Chêne Wharf acting as a key navigational hub since 1857. This site was integral for guiding maritime traffic into Shediac Bay, highlighted by the Pointe-du-Chêne Range Lights, first established in 1875. These lights, crucial for the safe navigation of vessels, particularly those from Prince Edward Island, have evolved over the years. Although the original structures no longer stand, the site today features a modern range light alongside a decorative lighthouse, reflecting its enduring maritime significance.
16. Old Portage Island Lighthouse
In September 1869, construction began on a square lighthouse at the southern end of Portage Island, one of the two barrier islands marking the entrance to Inner Miramichi Bay. This strategic beacon, first lit on October 6, 1869, utilized a lantern room and lamps repurposed from the nearby Point Escuminac Lighthouse. Despite its essential role in aiding navigation, the initial lack of adequate keeper’s quarters led to challenges, including a shelter insufficient for harsh weather. Over the years, the lighthouse saw various upgrades and keepers, playing a pivotal role in maritime safety until replaced in the 1980s.
17. Mulholland Point Lighthouse
In 1882, Parliament funded the construction of Mulholland Lighthouse at Campobello Island's southern end to aid navigation through Lubec Narrows. Completed in 1884 and operational by 1885, this wooden octagonal tower stood forty-four feet tall, with its light visible up to thirteen miles. The Roosevelt family, including a young Franklin D. Roosevelt, frequented the island, enhancing its historical significance. Mulholland was decommissioned in 1963, following the construction of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Bridge.
18. Oak Point Lighthouse
Oak Point, at the northern end of Long Reach on the Saint John River, is notable for its lighthouse, crucial for navigating the area's treacherous currents and nearby islands like Rush and Grassy Island. In 1902, a new lighthouse replaced an older beacon, featuring a square, wooden structure with a red lantern, visible for 12 miles. Initially serving mariners, the lighthouse later briefly hosted a gift shop and overnight stays before reverting to its traditional role after renovations were reversed.
19. Green's Point Lightstation
Established in 1903, Green’s Point Lighthouse, built at a contract price of $800 by C. L. McKeen of St. Andrews, stands as a historic beacon on navigational charts. Comprising a wooden octagonal tower, it was constructed in St. Andrews in sections, then assembled on-site near the fog alarm building. The lighthouse, marked by a red, octagonal, iron lantern, originally exhibited a fixed-white light and played a crucial role in ensuring safe passage for vessels entering Passamaquoddy Bay through Letete Passage, aiding their journey to the wharves at St. Andrews, St. Stephen, and St. George.
20. Head Harbour Lightstation
In February 1829, New Brunswick's House of Assembly allocated £400 to construct Head Harbour Lighthouse on Campobello Island's northern tip. Completed within the year, this fifty-one-foot wooden octagonal tower cost £656 and has since stood as a historical beacon. It marks the first lighthouse in New Brunswick outside Saint John Harbour. Enduring storms and guiding mariners, it remains a testament to maritime history and is today preserved by dedicated heritage groups.
21. Inch Arran Lighthouse
The Inch Arran Lighthouse, erected in 1870 on Inch Arran Point, is a significant 11-meter wooden tower with a history deeply rooted in the Arseneau family's legacy of guiding local fishermen safely home. Originally illuminated with various lamps and reflectors, its importance was recognized in 2017 when it was designated under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act. The lighthouse remains operational, providing navigational aid and serving as a cultural landmark.
22. Jerome Point (Front Range)
Established in 1883 and modified in 1987, this active lighthouse features an original wooden salt-shaker tower. Standing at 4 meters (13.1 feet), its unique pyramid shape, large glazed windows, and thick vertical red day markings make it distinctive, though it's somewhat challenging to spot from the road.
23. Long Eddy Point Lighthouse
In 1966, a combination lighthouse and fog alarm building was constructed at Long Eddy Point, Grand Manan. Perched atop a bluff, it features a square tower displaying a red flashing light, integral to the one-story, concrete structure. This historic site, beloved for its stunning sunset views, was recognized under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act in 2017, marking its significance in maritime safety and cultural heritage.
Swallowtail Lighthouse on Grand Manan Island has a rich history that began with its construction in 1860, prompted by the tragic shipwreck of the Lord Ashburton. Built at a cost of £495, this lighthouse has since stood as a guardian over North Head Harbour, guiding countless vessels with its beacon. Despite enduring severe weather, such as the Saxby Gale in 1869 which nearly destroyed it, the lighthouse has been meticulously maintained and updated, including a transition from catoptric to dioptric lighting systems. Today, Swallowtail Lighthouse remains a symbol of resilience and maritime safety, attracting visitors and historians alike, intrigued by its storied past and the dedicated keepers who have managed its light through the decades.
Over the years, many of the New Brunswick lighthouses have been automated or decommissioned, but they remain cherished historical landmarks and popular tourist attractions. They offer visitors a glimpse into the province's maritime past and provide excellent opportunities for sightseeing and photography. Before planning a visit to any of these lighthouses, it is advisable to check for current access and visiting conditions, as they might be subject to change.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: FIND YOUR PERFECT KAYAK FOR NEW BRUNSWICK ADVENTURESÂ
