Here goes nothin' folks, this is the list of lighthouses that I want to see the most...
#10:
My list also starts out with a beacon from the state famous for having the most lighthouses, Michigan. Located on the east bank of Lake Michigan, it's one of the tallest lighthouses in the state, and its unique steel encasing was one of the features that drew me to it.
#9:
In the land of 1000 lakes (Minnesota) there aren't too many (LHF recognized) lighthouses, probably due to the small amount of great lake coast line in the state. Of the few lighthouses in Minnesota this one has really caught my attention. Despite what it lacks in stature, this lighthouse is one of the most picturesque lighthouses I've ever seen. It sits atop a large cliff on the rocky-Maine-like Lake Superior coastline, and unlike many of the lighthouses we've seen before, it looks like it lends itself better to distant photos rather than close-up shots. Hopefully someday we can make it out to this beauty!
#8:
A taller version of one of our favorite NY lighthouses; Montauk Point. The Tybee Island Lighthouse sits at the mouth of the Savannah River (which forms the border between Georgia and South Carolina) about 20 miles east of Savannah, GA. Although the picture above was one of the things that drew me to it, it also reminded me of the tall coastal lights that guide ships along North Carolina's Outer Banks.
#7:
Located north of Sandusky Bay on the shores of Lake Erie in Ohio. It is almost directly across the bay from Cedar Point which features an amusement park that boasts the most roller-coasters in any one park. Some quick fun facts: it's appeared on a U.S. postal stamp and the Ohio state license plate. Whenever we do make it to Cedar Point for the 'coasters, this lighthouse will definitely be on the trip itinerary.
#6:
Boston Harbor Lighthouse
Although there are many, many, many things I hate about the city of Boston (sports teams mainly) this lighthouse makes an appearance on my list for its great history. It is recognized as North America's first ever lighthouse, with the original tower dating back to 1716 (although it was burnt down by retreating British Troops), and the tower standing today, which replaced the original, was built in 1783. It is viewed as an "ideal' American lighthouse in that it marks a tiny island (dangerous to incoming boats) at the entrance of a very busy port.
#5:
The first "Mainer" to show up on the list, it is located near Port Clyde Harbor, ME which is a little bit "Up-West" of Penobscot Bay. The most attractive feature of this lighthouse is its long walkway which leads out to the beacon. The lighthouse was actually featured in the movie "Forrest Gump" during his famous running scene, he is seen running out the walkway to the lighthouse on one of his laps back-and-forth across the U.S.
#4:
Don't let the name fool you this lighthouse is actually located in Indiana waters at the southern most point of Lake Michigan. It features a smaller breakwater light at the opposite side of the harbor and the main pier-head light with the tall walkway that leads all the way out to it. Definitely a very visually attractive lighthouse that we will have to make it out to someday!
#3:
Yet another Mainer on the list, you could say this one hits close-to-home (well Jamie's home anyway), because it is located off-shore from Mt. Desert Island. But, if you were to use the "close-to-home" analogy you would be a little inaccurate due to the fact that it is one of the most isolated lighthouses in America and is actually about 26 miles away from the closest port on the island in Southwest Harbor. This fact alone makes it very attractive to see, and also the fact that it would just about complete our list of viewing the Mt Desert Island/Acadia National Park area lighthouses.
#2:
Marks the entrance to Southern-Maine's busiest port: Portland Harbor. This lighthouse along with being incredibly-visually stunning is yet another historic beacon to show-up on my list. Aside from being Maine's first lighthouse it was also the first lighthouse ordered to be built by the U.S. Lighthouse Service. President George Washington enacted Congress to create the service in order to build and maintain the young nation's coastal guides. Along with this lighthouse, President Washington pushed for and/or approved the building of lighthouses at Montauk Point, NY, Tybee Island, GA, and Cape Henry, VA by the lighthouse service. We cannot wait to make it to this beautiful and historic lighthouse.
#1:
Marks the southeastern point of North Carolinas famed Outer Banks. It's the only lighthouse of the Outer Banks that we didn't get to see this past summer during our honeymoon. We traveled all throughout the Cape Hatteras National Seashore seeing the Bodie Island, Cape Hatteras, and Ocracoke lighthouses. This amazing diamond-print designed lighthouse is located in the somewhat harder to reach Cape Lookout National Seashore. It is one of the many coastal lights of the Southern-Atlantic Coast, meaning that its very tall design makes its beacon viewable extremely far-out at sea. It is definitely on our must-do list to make it back down to the Outer Banks to see this final lighthouse!
Honorable Mentions:
When I was making this list it was extremely hard for me to narrow it down to just 10, so here are some lighthouses that fell outside of my top 10:
All photos used in this post were obtained from LighthouseFriends.com
