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What Was the First Lighthouse in the United States?

The first lighthouse ever built in the United States was the historic Boston Light, which was first lit in 1716. The original lighthouse didn't last long, though, as it was destroyed by the British in 1776 during the American Revolution. The current Boston Light was rebuilt in 1783 and is still in operation today, making it the second-oldest working lighthouse in America. It is also the only lighthouse in the U.S. to still be actively staffed by the U.S. Coast Guard.

What Is the Oldest Lighthouse in the United States?

The oldest lighthouse in the United States that is still standing is the Sandy Hook Lighthouse in New Jersey. It was built in 1764, has never been rebuilt, and is still in operation today. When it was first built, it was only 500 feet from the tip of Sandy Hook, but today, it stands nearly a mile and a half inland from the tip due to land growth caused by littoral drift. The newest lighthouse in the U.S. is the Sullivan's Island Lighthouse, which was first lit in 1962 and sits at the entrance of Charleston Harbor on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. It was built in a triangular shape to withstand winds of 125 mph and is the only lighthouse in the United States with an elevator and air conditioning.

Where Is the Tallest Lighthouse in the United States?

The tallest lighthouse in the United States is the Cape Hatteras Light, which is 198.5 feet tall. The lighthouse is located on Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks, in Buxton, North Carolina, and protects one of the most hazardous parts of the Atlantic Coast. The strong current there has caused many shipwrecks, giving it the reputation of being the "Graveyard of the Atlantic." The Cape Hatteras lighthouse is known for being one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the United States, famed for its unique black and white candy-stripe pattern. What is the shortest lighthouse in the U.S.? The smallest lighthouse registered with the U.S. Coast Guard is the 6-foot-tall Pocahontas Light on Echo Point, Great Diamond Island, in Casco Bay off of Portland, ME.

What Is the Most Expensive Lighthouse Ever Built in the United States?

The most expensive lighthouse ever built in the U.S. is the St. George Reef Light, which cost $715,000 to build in 1892, or $23.6 million when adjusted for inflation, more than double the initial estimate. This led to an erratic construction schedule that took nearly ten years, as the project had to wait for the federal government to allocate more funds. The St. George Reef Light is a wave-washed lighthouse, with ocean water hitting it on all four sides. This unique design and the rocky location it was built on led to it being a far more difficult lighthouse to build than most others.

Did the Statue of Liberty Used to Be a Lighthouse?

Yes, the Statue of Liberty was once an official lighthouse. The Statue of Liberty operated as a lighthouse in its early years and was placed under the care of the U.S. Lighthouse Board in 1886. However, the statue proved to be useless as a lighthouse, with the light from its torch much too dim to be a navigational aid. Due to this, it only operated as a lighthouse for 16 years. The Statue of Liberty's unsuccessful attempt at being a lighthouse could be partly attributed to the fact that it was the first lighthouse in the U.S. to use electric lighting, which was a new technology at that time. Which of the many incredible lighthouses of the U.S. is your favorite to cruise past in your boat or yacht?

100 Lighthouses of the United States