Lighthouse are Fun, Educational, Historical and Romantic
I have always been drawn to lighthouses, but in 2007 I retired and my interest in lighthouses really started to peak. I bought a new camera and my husband and I began to plan trips around photographing lighthouses. In the years since I have photographed over 100 lighthouses and always look forward to finding the next lighthouse to photograph.
I have been amazed at how there can be so many different types of lighthouses. I had always thought of the tall thin cylinder type lighthouses but I have learned that there are many more varieties. Besides photographing lighthouses I have enjoyed learning about the history of each lighthouse and in several cases I have been able to climb the lighthouse and visit museums about the lighthouse.
I also enjoy writing about lighthouses. I love sharing my photos and what I have learned. With lighthouses there is always something new to learn and I'm anxious for my next lighthouse adventure.
All photos on this page are by mbgphoto.
Photographing Lighthouses
unique challenges
I thoroughly enjoy photographing lighthouses. Each lighthouse has it's own unique look and character and I try to capture it in my photographs. Since we photograh most of the lighthouses when we are traveling and have a limited amount of time, I'm not always able to choose the best time for lighting and the best angles. so my challenge is to find a way to capture an image that depicts each particular lighthouse. Some lighthouses are on shorelines that give me an open space to photograph but others have buildings and houses that have grown up around them making it difficult to get a good shot.
Split Rock Lighthouse
Source: Mary Beth Granger
Lighthouses I have Climbed
Climbing a Lighthouse - a whole new view
When I first started photographing lighthouses I was a bit afraid to make the trek to the top. Many of the taller lighthouses have over 100 narrow and winding stairs to the top. I first tried to climb Jupiter lighthouse and only could make myself go out half way to the top. I did get some good photos from the landings and although I would have loved to go all the way to the top I just couldn't make myself.
One year we were with some friends at the Hunting Island lighthouse in South Carolina and they coaxed me to climb to the top. The view was breathtaking and well worth overcoming my fear of the climb. You see the heights don't really bother me once I'm at the top, it is the climb that makes me fearful. The next year when we were in Jupiter, Florida I finally climbed that lighthouse to the top and it was well worth the climb.
Since then I have climbed lighthouses in Maryland, Michigan and Minnesota. These lighthouses are all shorter lighthouses and the climb is between 35-60 steps so they are not nearly as intimidating. In all cases the views have been worth the climb. It gives you a whole new appreciation of what it must have been like as a lighthouse keeper.
This photo shows the view from atop the Hunting Island Lighthouse.
Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast
Staying in a Lighthouse
a fun experience
I was thrilled when in the fall of 2012 my husband and I were able to stay in a lighthouse bed and breakfast in Two Harbors, Minnesota. I was able to photograph the lighthouse at all hours of day and night and I even climbed the tower in the middle of the night to watch the ships come into the harbor. It was a fantastic experience.
In this photo you see the lighthouse at dawn. I got up very early to go outside and catch the sun coming up behind the lighthouse.
Two Harbors Lighthouse
Source: Mary Beth Granger
Lighthouses I have Visited
United States Coastal Lighthouses - east and west coast lighthouses-38
At this point I have visited many lighthouses on the east coast but very few on the west coast. I'm hoping that will change in the coming years. This will be a list that I am hopeful will be added to each year.
- Nubbles Lighthouse, Maine
- Portland Head Lighthouse, Maine
- Bug Lighthouse, Maine
- Drum Point Lighthouse, Maryland
- Piney Point Lighthouse, Maryland
- Cove Point Lighthouse, Maryland
- Hooper Strait Lighthouse, Maryland
- Point Lookout, Maryland
- Sandy Point, Maryland
- Currituck, North Carolina
- Bodie Island, North Carolina
- Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
- Ocracoke Island, North Carolina
- Roanoke Island
- Sullivans Island, South Carolina
- Hilton Head, South Carolina
- Morris island, South Carolina
- Hunting Island, South Carolina
- Tybee Island, Georgia
- Savannah's Old Harbor Light, Georgia
- Cockspur Island, Georgia
- St. Simons Island, Georgia
- St. Augustine, Florida
- Ponce De Leon, Florida
- Jupiter Inlet, Florida
- Hillsboro Inlet, Florida
- Cape Florida, Florida
- Biloxi, Mississippi
- Concord Point, Maryland
- Cape May, NJ
- Hereford Inlet Light, NJ
- Absecon, NJ
- Barnegat
- Sandy Hook, NJ
- Navesink, NJ
- Old Point Loma CA
- New Point Loma CA
- Patos Island, Washington
Bodie Island, North Carolina
Bodie Island, North Carolina
Source: Mary Beth Granger
Great Lakes Lighthouses - 64
Many of the US lighthouses are located on the shores of the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes have historically been an important part of the shipping industry and in the past lighthouses were important to keep the ships safe and guide their way through some of the narrow passages.
- Michigan City, Indiana
- Old Michigan City, Indiana
- St. Joseph, Michigan
- South Haven, Michigan
- Grand Haven, Michigan
- Holland, Michigan
- Muskegon, Michigan
- Big Sable, Michigan
- Little Sable, Michigan
- Frankfort, Michigan
- Ludington, Michigan
- Manistee, Michigan
- Point Betsie, Michigan
- Grand Traverse, Michigan
- Mission Point , Michigan
- North Pierpoint Duluth, Minnesota
- South Pier, Duluth
- Harbor, Duluth
- Two Harbors, Minnesota
- Breakwater, Two Harbors, Minnesota
- Split Rock, Minnesota
- Port Washington, Wisconsin
- Algoma, Wisconsin
- Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
- Cana Island, Wisconsin
- Eagle Bluff, Wisconsin
- Bailey's Harbor
- Plum Island, Wisconsin
- Whitehall, Michigan
- Sheboygan, Wisconsin
- Eagle River, Michigan
- Sand Hills, Michigan
- Big Bay Point, Michigan
- Menominee, Michigan
- Manistique
- Sand Point, Michigan
- Seul Choix, Michigan
- Munising, Michigan
- Grand Island Michigan
- Grand Harbor Range Lights Michigan
- Marquette Michigan
- Presque Park Michigan
- Eagle River Michigan
- Copper Harbor Michigan
- Portage Lake Michigan
- Portage River Michigan
- Ontonagan Michigan
- Ontonagan Pier Light
- Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse
- McGulpin Point
- Cheboygan Crib
- Cheboygan Front Range Light
- Forty Mile Point
- Presque Isle Old
- Presque Isle New
- Point Iroquois
- Whitefish Point
- Marblehead, Ohio
- Fort Gratiot, Michigan
- Huron Lightship, Port Huron, Michigan
- Port Sanilac
- Pointe Aux Barques
- Tawas Point Light
- Sturgeon Point Light
Manistee Michigan Lighthouse
Manistee Michigan Lighthouse
Outside the US - 16
I have visited photographed several lighthouses outside of the US. The ones below were in Canada. Mexico, Columbia, Panama and the Bahamas.
- Peggy's Cove
- Halifax Harbor
- McNab's Island
- George's Island
- Kidston Island
- Charlottetown, Harbor
- Prince Edward Island
- Prince Edward Island by Bridge
- Nassau Harbor
- Crystal Cay, Nassau Bahamas
- Prospect Point, Vancouver
- Panama Canal -Chagres River
- Huatulco Mexico
- Puerto Chiapas Mexico- Red and White
- Puerto Chiapas Mexico-faux lighthouse
- Punta Castillo Grande- in Cartagena, Columbia harbor
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
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