Photographic Tour of Erie Pennsylvania Lighthouses

                                                              Presque Isle Lighthouse

Three Historic Lighthouses

Erie Pennsylvania boasts three historic lighthouses.  On a recent trip my husband and I stopped in Erie and I was able to photograph all three lighthouses.  The photo above shows Presque Isle lighthouse which was built in 1873.  It is open to tours but we arrived just as it was closing so I only got photos of the exterior.

Erie Land Lighthouse

The first lighthouse built on the Great Lakes was in Erie.  Here is some information and photos on the Erie Land lighthouse.

Erie Land Light

North Pier Light

The third lighthouse in Erie is the North Pier Light.  It is located on Presque Isle but can also be seen from the Erie Land light.  Here are photos taken of it from both locations.\

                                          North Pier Light

Stop by Review This at https://www.reviewthisreviews.com/2018/08/reviewing-lighthouses-in-erie.html  to read more information on these lighthouses.

Erie Pennsylvania Lighthouses Poster
by lighthouseenthusiast

Pemaquid Lighthouse

Pemaquid Lighthouse Maine

Visiting the Lighthouse

I had seen beautiful photos of the lighthouse at Pemaquid Point and was anxious to try my hand at photographing the lighthouse and the shoreline with the beautiful rocks.  We drove north on Hwy 1 in Maine until we reached the town of Damariscotta.  We then took hwy 130 till we reached the end of the point and Pemaquid Lighthouse.

When we first reached the point the fog was very thick, but I got out of the car and started to explore the grounds.  There were lots of beautiful flowers, an art gallery, a fisherman museum, and beautiful scenery in addition to the lighthouse and keepers house.  It is one of the nicest lighthouse areas I have encountered on my quest to photograph lighthouses.  After my exploring the fog began to lift and I captured the lighthouse from various angles.

The Lighthouse as Seen from the Rocks

One of the great features of Pemaquid Point is the beautiful rock formations.  Leading up to the lighthouse is a "frozen wave" rock formation that reaches down to the end of the point.  I had seen the photos and wanted to capture the rocks leading up to the lighthouse.  What I didn't realize is that the only way to capture that look was for me to climb down the hill on the rocks.  I stood and looked at it for a bit and then decided to go for it.  It was definately worth the climb.  There were lots of little flowers blooming in the cracks of the rocks and the entire scene was wonderful.  The climb was a little scary at first, but then it was not really too hard.

The Lighthouse Structure

The lighthouse stands 30 feet above the ground and 79 feet above sea level.  In clear weather the light can be seen for 14 nautical miles.  The white light flashes every 6 seconds and automatically turns on and off at dusk and dawn.  Winding stairs take you to the top of the lighthouse which is open to visitors.

Stop by my Zazzle store for a wide array of Lighthouse gifts.  Lighthouse Gifts and Photos

Bodie Island Lighthouse

A Photographers View of Bodie Island Light

In my quest to photograph lighthouses, my husband and I traveled to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. I had seen photos of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse but was unfamiliar with the other lights that guided mariners along the Outer Banks.

The first lighthouse we visited was on Bodie Island at the north end of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. We arrived on a clear August evening so we decided to head straight to the nearest lighthouse. The early evening light was perfect for photographing and I enjoyed walking around the lighthouse and capturing the views from various angles.

The lighthouse was not open to climb, but there was a small museum operated by the National Park Service in the old keeper's house.

I hope you enjoy my photos!

Bodie Island on Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Cape Hatteras National Seashore was the first national seashore in the country. It extends 70 miles from south Nags Head to Ocracoke Island. It covers 30,000 acres.

There are many historic and recreational sites along the seashore. I was particularly interested in the three lighthouses that are located on this national seashore. 

A Bit of History

Bodie Island Lighthouse (pronounced body) is located on the North Carolina Outer Banks just south of Nags Head. Like many of the lighthouses along the coast, this is not the first lighthouse on Bodie.

The first lighthouse built in 1847 was abandoned 12 years later due to it's poor foundation. A second lighthouse was built in 1859 but it was blown up in 1861 by the Confederate troops who were afraid that it would give the Union an advantage in navigation.

The lighthouse we see today was built in 1872 and is near the northern border of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Poster in Bodie Lighthouse Museum

View from Museum Porch

Bodie Island Lighthouse view from Museum Porch

View from Hwy 12 in evening

Looking through the Porch Slats

I am always on the lookout for interesting perspectives of a lighthouse. When we visited Bodie Island I walked all around the lighthouse looking for the best views. I tried some close up and some from distances. I liked this interesting perspective taken through the slats of the back porch of the museum.

A Close Up Shot

Close Up shots become a bit tricky when we are talking about a tall, thin structure. I took this photo from the road leading up to the lighthouse using my zoom lens.

Lighthouses of the Outer Banks

Here is a postcard I made of lighthouses I photographed in the Outer Banks.

Lighthouses of the Outer Banks Postcard by lighthouseenthusiast
Check out other North carolina lighthouses Postcards at zazzle.com

Prospect Point Lighthouse

 Prospect Point Lighthouse is located in Stanley Park in Vancouver, Canada.  On a recent cruise our ship left the port in Vancouver and proceeded under the Lions Gate Bridge (a popular Vancouver landmark).  As we proceeded under the bridge I noticed a cute little lighthouse sitting on a path below the bridge.

I did a bit of research and found that the lighthouse is called Prospect Point.  In October of 1888 the steamship Beaver slammed into Prospect point and the need was felt for a lighthouse in the area.  The first light at Prospect point was opened on July 25, 1888.

In 1938 the Lions Gate Bridge (linking the Prospect point bluff to North Vancouver) was constructed and the original lighthouse still operated.  Several years later in 1946, the current lighthouse was opened.  As we traveled by the lighthouse on a Sunday afternoon I could see many visitors to the park walking past the trail by the lighthouse.  It looked the a great way to spend a beautiful afternoon.

The photo above shows the Lions Gate Bridge and the skyline of Vancouver.  I took the photograph off the back of the ship after we passed the lighthouse.

Photographing Hereford Inlet Lighthouse

A Photographers Dream

Hereford Inlet Lighthouse is located along the New Jersey shore in North Wildwood. This gorgeous Victorian style lighthouse is a photographers dream. It not only has a beautiful Victorian home with a lighthouse incorporated into the house, but the surrounding property is full of beautiful gardens, special little hideaways, and a path leading right to the sea.

I found this lighthouse particularly interesting because it looked more like a beautiful Victorian home than a lighthouse. Inside the home it has 5 fireplaces and a very well maintained living quarters for the keeper and his family. This must certainly rate among the nicest keepers quarters for lighthouses.

All photographs in this article are my own-mbgphoto.

Victorian Lighthouse

Source: Mary Beth Granger

View from Parking Area

Source: Mary Beth Granger

Sign Welcoming You to Lighthouse

Source: Mary Beth Granger

Historic Lighthouse

The lighthouse was first operated in 1874 to guide ships along the New Jersey shoreline. This distinctive lighthouse helped navigators to pinpoint where they were located along the shore.

This lighthouse is very sturdily constructed. In 1889 when a ferocious hurricane blasted the area many people were washed away and drowned. Those people that survived took refuge in the Hereford lighthouse. Even though it was surrounded by water and shaken by the high winds the lighthouse and18 people who took refuge in it survived. ( information on this event taken from Mid-Atlantic Lighthouses by Bruce Roberts and Ray Jones).

The lighthouse remained in service for 90 years at which time it was discontinued by the Coast Guard in 1964. It sat unused until 1986 when the citizens of North Wildwood opened it again.

Today you can tour the lighthouse, climb to the top of the tower and enjoy a restful day among its beautiful gardens,

 

Visiting Lighthouses

Have you ever visited a Lighthouse?

• 42% Oh yes I have visited many lighthouses, they are great!
• 42% I have visited a few lighthouses and would love to see more.
• 17% No, but they are on my list now.
• 0% Why would I want to see a lighthouse...just another building!

12 people have voted in this poll.

My Passion for Visiting Lighthouses

I have always loved lighthouses, but 8 years ago when I retired my love of lighthouses really heated up. It started with a love to travel and improve my photography skills. The first year of my retirement my husband and I visited Door County, Wisconsin and I took some photos of their lighthouses. I found each one to be different and intriguing and my quest to photograph more lighthouses started.

Over the years we have photographed over 100 lighthouses and each year I am looking for new opportunities to capture these beautiful, historic lights with my camera. Our trip to the New Jersey shore gave me the opportunity to add 6 new lighthouses to my photographic collections.

White Hydrangea and Gazebo Sitting Area

Source: Mary Beth Granger

The Gardens at Hereford Inlet Lighthouse

The gardens all around the lighthouse were beautiful. The flowers were well maintained and there was a huge variety of flowers artfully set among small sitting areas. You would walk along a path and be surprised by each little area. One area had a birdbath surrounded by flowers, another would have beautiful hydrangea bushes, and still others would have bright yellow daisy type flowers bordering the house and fence.

There were so many wonderful little areas to explore. It was truly an unexpected and delightful garden.

Hanging Baskets around the Porch

Source: Mary Beth Granger

Flowers Surrounding Birdbath

Source: Mary Beth Granger

Source: Mary Beth Granger

Bright Yellow Flowers and Picket Fence

Source: Mary Beth Granger

Source: Mary Beth Granger

Paths throughout the Garden

One of the things that I loved about the garden was the pathways that led you from one section to the next. These pathways were lined with beautiful greenery and flowers and were found throughout the back area of the grounds.

There was a wooden pathway that went from the house to the very back of the property which then opened up to a concrete boardwalk that went along the sea. What a great way to spend an afternoon. I walked from the gardens out onto the boardwalk and could watch the sailboats drifting out to sea. A truly delightful walk.

Pathways Lined with Flowers

Source: Mary Beth Granger

Source: Mary Beth Granger

Old Boats Surrounded by Flowers

Towards the back area of the gardens, I came across two different old boats. Theses boats looked like they had seen better days and were now used to showcase the flowers around the garden. Each of the boats had a wooden bench sitting across from it and beautiful flowers growing all around the boat.

I took some time to sit on the bench and rest before I started photographing the boat and flowers. What a great way to add interest to the gardens!

Source: Mary Beth Granger

Where is Hereford Inlet?

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North Wildwood New Jersey -

North Wildwood, NJ 08260, USA

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When we visited Hereford Inlet we were staying at Atlantic City. The lighthouse was about a half hours drive from our hotel.

Lighthouse Gifts from my Photos

I love to use my photographs to make gifts for my Zazzle shops.  Below you will find several gifts from photographs of the Hereford Lighthouse.

Gardens at Hereford Inlet Lighthouse by lighthouseenthusiast
Create custom greeting cards at Zazzle.

Hereford Inlet Lighthouse Double-Sided Ceramic Round Christmas Ornament by lighthouseenthusiast
Browse Hereford inlet lighthouse Ornaments

Hereford Inlet Lighthouse Poster by lighthouseenthusiast
See more Hereford inlet lighthouse Posters