List of tallest lighthouses in the United States

Updated on Oct 10, 2024

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The height of existing lighthouses is expressed in two measures: the height of the tower itself, and the distance from the focal plane (that is, the center) of the light source to the water. The latter can be much greater than the former if the light stands on a promontory. Several structures which have functioned as lighthouses exceed the height of any entry in this list, among them the Statue of Liberty at 305 feet (93 m) and Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial at 352 feet (107 m). These are not listed because they were not constructed as lighthouses per se.

Tallest towers

207 feet (63 m) - Cape Hatteras Light, North Carolina (height includes 10 feet (3.0 m) underground)
191 feet (58 m) - Cape Charles Light, Cape Charles, Virginia
175 feet (53 m) - Ponce de Leon Inlet Light, Florida
172 feet (52 m) - Barnegat Light, New Jersey
169 feet (51 m) - Cape Lookout Light, North Carolina
169 feet (51 m) - Absecon Light, New Jersey
168 feet (51 m) - Fire Island Light, New York
165 feet (50 m) - St. Augustine Light, Florida
164 feet (50 m) - Cape Henry Light, Virginia
162 feet (49 m) - Navassa Island Light, Navassa Island
161 feet (49 m) - Morris Island Light, South Carolina
158 feet (48 m) - Currituck Beach Light, North Carolina
158 feet (48 m) - Bodie Island Light, North Carolina
157 feet (48 m) - Cape May Light, New Jersey
157 feet (48 m) - Dry Tortugas Light, Florida
154 feet (47 m) - Tybee Island Lighthouse, Georgia
151 feet (46 m) - Cape Canaveral Light, Florida
150 feet (46 m) - Pensacola Light, Florida
150 feet (46 m) - Cape Romain Lighthouses, South Carolina
148 feet (45 m) - Oak Island Light, North Carolina
142 feet (43 m) - Hillsboro Inlet Light, Florida
142 feet (43 m) - Assateague Light, Virginia
140 feet (43 m) - Charleston Light, South Carolina
138 feet (42 m) - Moloka'i Light, Hawaii
136 feet (42 m) - Hunting Island Light, South Carolina
133 feet (41 m) - Boon Island Light, Maine
131 feet (40 m) - Sand Island Light, Alabama
130 feet (40 m) - Rock of Ages Light, Michigan
124 feet (38 m) - Cape Ann Light, Massachusetts
121 feet (38 m) - White Shoal Light, Michigan
120 feet (37 m) - Sand Key Light, Florida
120 feet (37 m) - Mobile Point Light, Alabama
119 feet (37 m) - Petit Manan Light, Maine
115 feet (35 m) - Point Arena Light, California
115 feet (35 m) - Pigeon Point Light, California
113 feet (34 m) - Grosse Point Light, Illinois
112 feet (34 m) - Big Sable Point (Grande Point au Sable) Light, Michigan
111 feet (34 m) - Rawley Point Light, Wisconsin
110 feet (34 m) - Montauk Point Light, New York
110 feet (34 m) - Stannard Rock Light, Michigan
109 feet (33 m) - Presque Isle Light (New), Michigan
108 feet (33 m) - Wind Point Light, Wisconsin
108 feet (33 m) - Jupiter Inlet Light, Florida
107 feet (33 m) - Little Sable Point (Petite Point au Sable) Light, Michigan
107 feet (33 m) - Grays Harbor Light, Washington
104 feet (32 m) - St. Simons Island Light, Georgia
104 feet (32 m) - Summersville Lake Lighthouse, West Virginia
100 feet (32 m) - Marcus Hook Range Rear Light, Delaware
100 feet (30 m) - Bald Head Light, North Carolina
99 feet (30 m) - South Manitou Island Light, Michigan
99 feet (30 m) - Grosse Ile North Channel Front Range Light, Michigan
98 feet (30 m) - Sanibel Island Light, Florida
95 feet (29 m) - Cape Florida Light, Florida
94 feet (29 m) - Destruction Island Light, Washington
93 feet (29 m) - Yaquina Head Light, Oregon
93 feet (28 m) - Spectacle Reef Light, Michigan
91 feet (28 m) - Sand Hills Light, Michigan
90 feet (27 m) - St. George Reef Light, California
90 feet (27 m) - Harbour Town Light, South Carolina
89 feet (27 m) - Pointe aux Barques Light, Michigan
89 feet (27 m) - New London Harbor Light, Connecticut
87 feet (27 m) - Au Sable Light, Michigan
86 feet (26 m) - Key West Light, Florida
85 feet (26 m) - Fort Gratiot Light, Michigan
84 feet (26 m) - Alcatraz Island Light, California
81 feet (25 m) - St. Johns River Light, Florida
80 feet (25 m) - Portland Head Light, Maine
80 feet (24 m) - Manitou Island Light, Michigan
78 feet (24 m) - Whitefish Point Light, Michigan
78 feet (24 m) - Seul Choix Point Light, Michigan
77 feet (23 m) - Gray's Reef Light, Michigan
76 feet (23 m) - Waugoshance Light, Michigan
76 feet (23 m) - Middle Island Light, Michigan
76 feet (23 m) - Cape Decision Light, Alaska
75 feet (23 m) - Ocracoke Light, North Carolina
75 feet (23 m) - St. Martin Island Light, Michigan
74 feet (23 m) - Piedras Blancas Light, California
71 feet (22 m) - Sturgeon Point Light, Michigan
71 feet (22 m) - St. Helena Island Light, Michigan
70 feet (21 m) - Poverty Island Light, Michigan
70 feet (21 m) - New Point Loma lighthouse, California
70 feet (21 m) - Minneapolis Shoal Light, Michigan
69 feet (21 m) - Los Angeles Harbor Light, California
68 feet (21 m) - Five Finger Islands Light, Alaska
67 feet (20 m) - Tawas Point Light, Michigan
67 feet (20 m) - Point Vicente Light, California
67 feet (20 m) - Frankfort North Breakwater Light, Michigan
67 feet (20 m) - Cape Hinchinbrook Light, Alaska
66 feet (20 m) - Tree Point Light, Alaska
66 feet (20 m) - St. Johns Light, Florida
66 feet (20 m) - Highland (Cape Cod) Light, Massachusetts
65 feet (20 m) - Rock Harbor Light, Michigan
65 feet (20 m) - Point Iroquois Light, Michigan
65 feet (20 m) - North Head Light, Washington
65 feet (20 m) - Cedar River Light, Michigan
65 feet (20 m) - Cape Flattery Light, Washington
65 feet (20 m) - Big Bay Point Light, Michigan
63 feet (19 m) - North Manitou Shoal Light, Michigan
63 feet (19 m) - New Dungeness Light, Washington
63 feet (19 m) - DeTour Reef Light, Michigan
62 feet (19 m) - Tillamook Light, Oregon
62 feet (19 m) - Thunder Bay Island Light, Michigan
62 feet (19 m) - Ludington North Pierhead Light, Michigan
62 feet (19 m) - Grand Marais Harbor Inner Range Light, Michigan
62 feet (19 m) - Grand Island Harbor Rear Range Light, Michigan
62 feet (19 m) - Copper Harbor Light, Michigan
61 feet (19 m) - Umpqua River Light, Oregon
61 feet (19 m) - Mary Island Light, Alaska
61 feet (19 m) - Isle Royale (Menagerie Island) Light, Michigan
60 feet (18 m) - Port Austin Reef Light, Michigan
60 feet (18 m) - Poe Reef Light, Michigan
59 feet (18 m) - Cape Blanco Lighthouse, Oregon
59 feet (18 m) - Port Sanilac Light, Michigan
59 feet (18 m) - Lansing Shoals Light, Michigan
58 feet (18 m) - New Point Comfort Light, Virginia
58 feet (18 m) - Munising Front Range Light, Michigan
58 feet (18 m) - Ile Aux Galets Light, Michigan
58 feet (18 m) - Crisp Point Light, Michigan
58 feet (18 m) - Amelia Island Light, Florida
57 feet (17 m) - St. Joseph North Pier Inner Light, Michigan
57 feet (17 m) - Round Island Light, Michigan
56 feet (17 m) - Old Mackinac Point Light, Michigan
56 feet (17 m) - Eldred Rock Light, Alaska
56 feet (17 m) - Charlevoix South Pier Light, Michigan
55 feet (17 m) - Fourteen Mile Point Light, Michigan
55 feet (17 m) - Cape St. Elias Light, Alaska
54 feet (16 m) - Split Rock Lighthouse, Minnesota
54 feet (16 m) - Mobile Middle Bay Light, Alabama
53 feet (16 m) - St. Joseph North Pier Outer Light, Michigan
53 feet (16 m) - Squaw Island Light, Michigan
53 feet (16 m) - Muskegon South Breakwater Light, Michigan
53 feet (16 m) - Cape Disappointment Light, Washington
52 feet (16 m) - Point No Point Light (Maryland), Maryland
52 feet (16 m) - Point Conception Light, California
52 feet (16 m) - Martin Reef Light, Michigan
52 feet (16 m) - Forty Mile Point Light, Michigan
51 feet (16 m) - Sentinel Island Light, Alaska
51 feet (16 m) - Sandy Point Shoal Light, Maryland
51 feet (16 m) - Portage River (Jacobsville) Light, Michigan
51 feet (16 m) - Little Traverse Light, Michigan
51 feet (16 m) - Grand Haven South Pierhead Inner Light, Michigan
50 feet (15 m) - Harbor Beach Light, Michigan
49 feet (15 m) - Detroit River (Bar Point Shoal) Light, Michigan
48 feet (15 m) - Point Sur Light, California
48 feet (15 m) - Point Hueneme Light, California
48 feet (15 m) - East Brother Island Light, California
47 feet (14 m) - Point Cabrillo Light, California
47 feet (14 m) - Grand Traverse Light, Michigan
46 feet (14 m) - Point Wilson Light, Washington
46 feet (14 m) - Old Point Loma lighthouse, California
46 feet (14 m) - Gull Rock Light, Michigan
46 feet (14 m) - Drum Point Light, Maryland
46 feet (14 m) - Charity Island Light, Michigan
46 feet (14 m) - Beaver Island (Beaver Head) Light, Michigan
45 feet (14 m) - Windmill Point Light, Michigan
45 feet (14 m) - Ontonagon Light, Michigan
45 feet (14 m) - Beavertail Light, Rhode Island
45 feet (14 m) - Battery Island Light, California
45 feet (14 m) - Race Point Light, Massachusetts
44 feet (13 m) - Cape Arago Light, Oregon
44 feet (13 m) - South Fox Island Light, Michigan
44 feet (13 m) - Sand Point Light, Michigan
44 feet (13 m) - Passage Island Light, Michigan
44 feet (13 m) - Bete Grise (Mendota) Light, Michigan
44 feet (13 m) - Manistee North Pierhead Light, Michigan
44 feet (13 m) - Eagle Harbor Light, Michigan
44 feet (13 m) - Cheboygan River Front Range Light, Michigan
44 feet (13 m) - Bois Blanc Island Light, Michigan
43 feet (13 m) - Thomas Point Shoal Light, Maryland
43 feet (13 m) - Point Pinos Light, California
43 feet (13 m) - Grand Marais Harbor Outer Range Light, Michigan
43 feet (13 m) - Cape Mendocino Light, California
41 feet (12 m) - Farallon Island Light, California
41 feet (12 m) - Beaver Island Harbor Light, Michigan
41 feet (12 m) - Nubble (Cape Neddick) Light, Maine
40 feet (12 m) - St. Clair Flats South Channel Rear Range Light, Michigan
40 feet (12 m) - San Luis Obispo Light, California
40 feet (12 m) - Round Island Passage Light, Michigan
40 feet (12 m) - Peninsula Point Light, Michigan
40 feet (12 m) - Marquette Harbor Light, Michigan
40 feet (12 m) - Granite Island Light, Michigan
40 feet (12 m) - Grand Island North Light, Michigan
40 feet (12 m) - Anacapa Island Light, California
39 feet (12 m) - Presque Isle Light (Old), Michigan
39 feet (12 m) - Huron Island Light, Michigan
39 feet (12 m) - Grand Island East Channel Light, Michigan
39 feet (12 m) - Wood End Light, Massachusetts
38 feet (12 m) - Long Point Light, Massachusetts
38 feet (12 m) - White River Light, Michigan
38 feet (12 m) - McGulpin's Point Light, Michigan
38 feet (12 m) - Lime Kiln Light, Washington
38 feet (12 m) - Cove Point Light, Maryland
37 feet (11 m) - Point Betsie (Point aux Becs Scies) Light, Michigan
37 feet (11 m) - Alki Point Light, Washington
36 feet (11 m) - Saginaw River Rear Range Light, Michigan
36 feet (11 m) - Mission Point Light, Michigan
36 feet (11 m) - Marquette Breakwater Outer Light, Michigan
36 feet (11 m) - Grand Haven South Pierhead Entrance Light, Michigan
36 feet (11 m) - Fourteen Foot Shoal Light, Michigan
35 feet (20 m) - Patos Island Light, Washington
35 feet (11 m) - Point Reyes Light, California
35 feet (11 m) - Table Bluff Light, California
35 feet (11 m) - South Haven South Pier Light, Michigan
35 feet (11 m) - Sharps Island Light, Maryland
35 feet (11 m) - Round Island Light, Michigan
35 feet (11 m) - Manistique East Breakwater Light, Michigan
35 feet (11 m) - Cape Sarichef Light, Alaska
34 feet (10 m) - Menominee North Pier Light, Michigan
34 feet (10 m) - Copper Harbor Rear Range Light, Michigan
34 feet (10 m) - Burrows Island Light, Washington
34 feet (10 m) - Alpena Light, Michigan
34 feet (10 m) - Cape Meares Lighthouse, Oregon
33 feet (10 m) - Point Bonita Light, California
33 feet (10 m) - Pipe Island Light, Michigan
33 feet (10 m) - Ontonagon Harbor West Pierhead Light, Michigan
33 feet (10 m) - Munising Rear Range Light, Michigan
33 feet (10 m) - Cheboygan Crib Light, Michigan
32 feet (10 m) - Holland Harbor Light, Michigan
31 feet (9 m) - Marshall Point Light, Maine
31 feet (9 m) - Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Light, Michigan
30 feet (9 m) - Presque Isle Harbor Breakwater Light, Michigan
30 feet (9 m) - Point No Point Light, Washington
30 feet (9 m) - Point Montara Light, California
30 feet (9 m) - Point Fermin Light, California
30 feet (9 m) - Owls Head Light, Maine
30 feet (9 m) - Mukilteo Light, Washington
30 feet (9 m) - Guard Island Light, Alaska
30 feet (9 m) - Admiralty Head Light, Washington
28 feet (9 m) - Muskegon Pier Light, Michigan
27 feet (8 m) - Punta Gorda Light, California
27 feet (8 m) - Fort Point Light, California
25 feet (8 m) - Yerba Buena Island, California
25 feet (8 m) - Trinidad Head Light, California
25 feet (8 m) - Point Retreat Light, Alaska
25 feet (8 m) - Cape Spencer Light, Alaska
24 feet (7 m) - Eagle River Light, Michigan
23 feet (7 m) - West Point Light, Seattle, Washington
23 feet (7 m) - Cedar Key Light, Florida
21 feet (6 m) - Copper Harbor Front Range Light, Michigan
20 feet (6 m) - Lime Point Light, California
20 feet (6 m) - Bush Point Light, Washington
16 feet (5 m) - St. Clair Flats South Channel Front Range Light, Michigan

Highest focal plane

462 feet (141 m) - Old Point Loma lighthouse, California
422 feet (129 m) - Cape Mendocino Light, California
420 feet (128 m) - Makapuu Point Light, Hawaii
395 feet (120 m) - Navassa Island Light, Navassa Island
358 feet (109 m) - Farallon Island Light, California
294 feet (90 m) - Point Reyes Light, California
278 feet (76 m) - Marcus Hook Range Rear Light, Delaware
277 feet (84 m) - Anacapa Island Light, California
273 feet (83 m) - Point Sur Light, California
258 feet (79 m) - Block Island Southeast Light, Rhode Island (since its move to higher ground)
235 feet (71 m) - Cape Hinchinbrook Light, Alaska
214 feet (65 m) - Alcatraz Island Light, California
213 feet (65 m) - Molaka'i Light, Hawaii
196 feet (60 m) - Trinidad Head Light, California
192 feet (59 m) - Cape Hatteras Light, North Carolina
185 feet (56 m) - Point Vicente Light, California
183 feet (56 m) - Highland (Cape Cod) Light, Massachusetts
180 feet (55 m) - Cape Charles Light, Cape Charles, Virginia
180 feet (55 m) - Fire Island Light, New York
180 feet (55 m) - Seguin Light, Maine
178 feet (54 m) - Monhegan Island Light, Maine
176 feet (54 m) - Table Bluff Light, California
170 feet (52 m) - Cape Sarichef Light, Alaska
169 feet (51 m) - Oak Island Light, North Carolina
168 feet (51 m) - Montauk Point Light, New York
166 feet (51 m) - Cape Ann Light, Massachusetts
165 feet (50 m) - Barnegat Light, New Jersey
163 feet (50 m) - Charleston Light, South Carolina
161 feet (49 m) - St. Augustine Light, Florida
159 feet (48 m) - Ponce de Leon Inlet Light, Florida
155 feet (47 m) - Point Arena Light, California
154 feet (43 m) - Assateague Light, Virginia
151 feet (46 m) - Dry Tortugas Light, Florida
148 feet (45 m) - Pigeon Point Light, California
146 feet (45 m) - Jupiter Inlet Light, Florida
144 feet (44 m) - St. George Reef Light, California
142 feet (43 m) - Piedras Blancas Light, California
140 feet (43 m) - Point Bonita Light, California
137 feet (42 m) - Boon Island Light, Maine
137 feet (42 m) - Cape Canaveral, Florida
134 feet (41 m) - Dice Head Light, Maine
125 feet (38 m) - Mobile Point Light, Alabama
123 feet (38 m) - Petit Manan Light, Maine
120 feet (37 m) - Sand Key Light, Florida
119 feet (36 m) - Grosse Point Light, Illinois
116 feet (35 m) - San Luis Obispo Light, California
111 feet (34 m) - Wind Point Light, Wisconsin
110 feet (34 m) - Fort Point Light, California
110 feet (30 m) - Bald Head Light, North Carolina
113 feet (34 m) - Rawley Point Light, Wisconsin
106 feet (32 m) - Eagle Island Light, Maine
105 feet (35 m) - Cape Spencer Light, Alaska
105 feet (32 m) - Baker Island Light, Maine
102 feet (31 m) - Sanibel Island Light, Florida
101 feet (31 m) - St. Croix River Light, Maine
101 feet (22 m) - Portland Head Light, Maine
100 feet (30 m) - Point Fermin Light, California
100 feet (30 m) - Owls Head Light, Maine
100 feet (30 m) - Key West Light, Florida
96 feet (29 m) - Cape Decision Light, Alaska
95 feet (29 m) - Yerba Buena Island, California
92 feet (28 m) - Heron Neck Light, Maine
91 feet (28 m) - Libby Island Light, Maine
91 feet (28 m) - Eldred Rock Light, Alaska
90 feet (27 m) - Old Cape Henry Light, Virginia
89 feet (27 m) - Point Pinos Light, California
88 feet (27 m) - Point Loma Light (new), California
86 feet (26 m) - Tree Point Light, Alaska
86 feet (26 m) - Sentinel Island Light, Alaska
85 feet (26 m) - Cape St. Elias Light, Alaska
84 feet (26 m) - Point Cabrillo Light, California
81 feet (25 m) - Five Finger Islands Light, Alaska
77 feet (23 m) - Battery Island Light, California
76 feet (23 m) - Mary Island Light, Alaska
75 feet (23 m) - Whitehead Light, Maine
75 feet (23 m) - Punta Gorda Light, California
75 feet (23 m) - Mount Desert Light, Maine
75 feet (23 m) - Cedar Key Light, Florida
75 feet (23 m) - Burnt Coat Harbor Light, Maine
73 feet (22 m) - Los Angeles Harbor Light, California
72 feet (22 m) - Moose Peak Light, Maine
70 feet (21 m) - Point Montara Light, California
67 feet (20 m) - Great Duck Island Light, Maine
67 feet (20 m) - Race Point Light, Massachusetts
65 feet (20 m) - Two Bush Island Light, Maine
64 feet (20 m) - Egg Rock Light, Maine
63 feet (19 m) - Point Retreat Light, Alaska
61 feet (19 m) - East Brother Island Light, California
59 feet (18 m) - The Cuckolds Light, Maine
57 feet (17 m) - Franklin Island Light, Maine
56 feet (17 m) - Little River Light, Maine
56 feet (17 m) - Carquinez Strait Light, California
54 feet (16 m) - Saddleback Ledge Light, Maine
54 feet (16 m) - Mobile Middle Bay Light, Alabama
53 feet (16 m) - Lubec Channel Light, Maine
52 feet (16 m) - Southampton Shoal Light, California
52 feet (16 m) - Pond Island Light, Maine
52 feet (16 m) - Point Hueneme Light, California
52 feet (16 m) - Deer Island Thorofare Light, Maine
52 feet (16 m) - Curtis Island Light, Maine
45 feet (14 m) - Wood End Light, Massachusetts
43 feet (13 m) - Hendricks Head Light, Maine
42 feet (13 m) - Prospect Harbor Point Light, Maine
41 feet (13 m) - Perkins Island Light, Maine
39 feet (12 m) - Grindel Point Light, Maine
39 feet (12 m) - Browns Head Light, Maine
37 feet (11 m) - Crabtree Ledge Light, Maine
36 feet (11 m) - Long Point Light, Massachusetts
36 feet (11 m) - Ram Island Light, Maine
33 feet (10 m) - Lime Point Light, California
33 feet (10 m) - Doubling Point Rear Range Light, Maine
33 feet (10 m) - Bear Island Light, Maine
25 feet (8 m) - Squirrel Point Light, Maine
25 feet (8 m) - Blue Hill Bay Light, Maine
23 feet (7 m) - Guard Island Light, Alaska
23 feet (7 m) - Doubling Point Light, Maine

References

List of tallest lighthouses in the United States Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

Contents

Tallest towers

Highest focal plane

References