10 historic East Coast lighthouses worth visiting

They stand as silent sentinels, homages to the age of steam and sail. Before satellite or GPS, they guided mariners safely through the water—and ashore.

“Lighthouses are more than bricks, stones, and metal,” says Jessica Kinder, former site coordinator for Virginia’s Cape Henry Lighthouse. “They are symbols of protection.”

These soaring structures stand as romantic icons of the American coastline. Along the East Coast from Maryland and Virginia to South Carolina, towers built over the centuries illuminate our history and culture. Here are 10 of the region’s most beautiful and significant lighthouses that are must-sees, including some that allow visitors to go inside.

This squat, hexagonal wooden structure originally marked the entrance to Tangier Sound in Hooper Strait. In 1966, the screw-pile lighthouse was moved to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. Here, you can climb the hatch up to the lens and learn about what it was like to be a lighthouse keeper.

Info: Adults, $16, good for 2 days, excluding festivals. Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, 213 N. Talbot Street, St. Michaels; (410) 745-2916.

This bright-white brick cone is Maryland’s oldest continuously operating lighthouse. Thirteen whale oil lamps originally provided the light. The current iron lantern contains a 6-panel, fourth-order Fresnel lens that rotates once every minute, producing a flashing white light every 10 seconds. The restored lighthouse keeper’s cottage is now a rental duplex welcoming up to 16 guests (rates start at $401 for the whole house). At the Calvert Marine Museum, located less than 10 miles from the Cove Point Lighthouse and near the mouth of the Patuxent River, visitors can view excellent exhibits and the 1883 screw-pile Drum Point Lighthouse (moved to the museum in 1975). 

Info: Adults, $9; AAA members, $7. 3500 Lighthouse Boulevard, Lusby; (410) 326-2042.

The first light to shine in this red-and-white striped landmark was a single candle lantern with 4 wicks and a powerful first-order Fresnel lens. In 1933, the lighthouse converted to electricity. Today’s twin rotating lights can be seen from 19 miles at sea. You can climb the lighthouse on weekends from April through November.

Info: Seven-day vehicle pass for the refuge, $25; no fee to climb the lighthouse. 8231 Beach Road, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, on the Virginia portion of Assateague Island; (757) 336-6122.

Built near the location of the 1607 first landing by Jamestown settlers, this reddish brown brick structure was the first federal works project authorized by the U.S. government and is one of only 9 federal octagonal lighthouses left in America. Visitors are not currently allowed to climb the 194 steps to the top, for panoramic views of the Chesapeake Bay, but can stroll the grounds for lovely sights. The newer, still-active 1881 black-and-white cast iron Cape Henry Lighthouse (not open to visitors) stands nearby. The lighthouses are on an active military base, and visitors must clear security before proceeding to the public parking lot.

Info: Adults, $10. 583 Atlantic Avenue, Fort Story; (757) 422-9421.

As early as 1837, the U.S. government sought a site for a new lighthouse along the treacherous Outer Banks. Today, this conical black-and-white tower rises near tall pines and overlooks freshwater marshland and small saltwater ponds. Its restored first-order Fresnel lens can be seen up to 20 miles away over the dangerous waters known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic.” You can climb the lighthouse from the third Friday in April through Columbus Day.

Info: Adults, $10. 8210 Bodie Island Lighthouse Road, Nags Head, Cape Hatteras National Seashore; (252) 473-2111.

Set in the heart of Ocracoke Island, Ocracoke Lighthouse is the second-oldest lighthouse in North Carolina (Old Baldy, built in 1817 on Bald Head Island, is the oldest) and the only all-white lighthouse on the Outer Banks. A whitewash coating of lime, salt, ground rice, whiting, and clear glue mixed with boiling water provided the original lighthouse’s coloration. Although the brick tower is not open for climbing, visitors can enjoy the beautiful grounds and picture-perfect photo opportunities. Parking can get crowded in summer, but the lighthouse is a short walk or bike ride from virtually anywhere in the quaint village of Ocracoke.

Info: Lighthouse Road, Ocracoke, Cape Hatteras National Seashore; (252) 473-2111.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States, with some 1.25 million bricks used for its construction. It’s also well-known for its distinctive black-and-white striped daymark pattern. Over the years, storms and tidal action eroded the shoreline to such an extent that officials feared for the tower’s survival. So, over 23 days in 1999, the National Park Service moved the lighthouse and its principal keeper’s quarters inland 2,900 feet. Typically, you can climb the 257 iron steps from the third Friday in April through Columbus Day (limit 30 visitors per climb). However, the lighthouse is unavailable for climbing in 2022 due to ongoing restoration efforts.

Info: Adults, $8. 46379 Lighthouse Road, Buxton, Cape Hatteras National Seashore; (252) 473-2111.

This lighthouse is accessible only by boat (including regular authorized ferries from Harkers Island and Beaufort, plus other tour options). The tower has a black-and-white diamond pattern—the only lighthouse in the United States to bear this unique daymark. It features a bright light that flashes every 15 seconds and typically can be seen from more than 20 miles out to sea. Normally, from the third week in May to the third weekend in September, you can climb the 207 steps to the top for views of the Core Banks. However, the lighthouse started a major renovation in the fall of 2021 and won’t reopen until 2023.

Info: Adults, $10. 131 Charles Street, Harkers Island (National Park Service visitors center), Cape Lookout National Seashore; (252) 728-2250.

The Confederate Army destroyed an 1859 lighthouse here during the Civil War to keep the Union Army from using it. Rebuilt in 1875, the lighthouse was uniquely constructed of interchangeable cast-iron sections so it could be dismantled should it ever need to be moved. Severe beach erosion made it necessary to relocate the lighthouse 1.3 miles inland in 1889. Today, this beacon in Hunting Island State Park is South Carolina’s only publicly accessible lighthouse. The 167-step spiral staircase yields stunning views of the barrier island and surrounding marshes from the observation deck. With a few exceptions, the lighthouse is usually available daily for climbing, although climbers need to be at least 44 inches tall. The lighthouse is currently closed for repairs, however, for approximately 2 years.

Info: Adults, $2 for the lighthouse, in addition to the state park admission fee of $8. 2555 Sea Island Parkway, Hunting Island; (843) 838-2011.

Today’s tower is the third incarnation of this lighthouse at the southern end of Charleston Harbor. The original, 42-foot structure, built in 1767,  was replaced in 1838 with a 102-foot version that was destroyed in the Civil War. Rebuilt in 1876 of local red brick, the structure was covered in black and white horizontal stripes; the black paint wore off more quickly than the white, so it now appears red-and-white–striped. Although this lighthouse is not open to the public, you can head to the eastern end of Folly Beach, where a quarter-mile trail leads to a quiet beach that yields views of the lighthouse out in the water.

Info: Viewable from the beach at the eastern end of Folly Beach and on select helicopter tours; (843) 633-0099.