Tour Cape Cod’s Beautiful Lighthouses

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Cape Cod is best known for its quaint villages, delicious seafood, tidal pools, ocean beaches, and lighthouses. But what you might not realize, is that there are 18 of these beautiful towers in the sand! Given the cape’s peninsular location, lighthouses have played a critical role in keeping fisherman and ship captains safe as they near the coast of Massachusettes. So while you’re here, see how many you can visit!

Some of the Cape’s lighthouses are better known than others, with a handful regarded as national landmarks, their likenesses painted thousands of times over and their photos decorating social media. We’ve gone ahead and listed a few here that we think you should visit and photograph, too.

Nobska Lighthouse was built in nearby Falmouth more than a century ago, in 1876. The 40-foot brick and cast iron lighthouse has since been restored and is open to visitors during the summer on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to noon. Other buildings on the property include an oil house, garage, and storage building, all of which you can see when you’re there. The keeper’s house is in the process of becoming a museum. Check the website for more details and to plan your visit.

The Three Sisters of Nauset are a trio of lighthouses in Eastham, Massachusetts that were once lost to erosion, twice rebuilt, moved, and then reunited. Their evolution began back in 1836 when they were commissioned to be built by concerned families of local seamen. But they were constructed too close to the sea, and after only five years, fell into the water. In their place, but further inland, three new 22-foot wooden towers were erected. In 1911, the center tower was moved and attached to the original keeper’s house, and the two other sisters moved a couple of times years later. After many years of service, the central tower was decommissioned and replaced and all three sisters were reunited. The property is open for free, public tours where you can see history in action.

Highland Light is the oldest lighthouse on Cape Cod. Commissioned by George Washington in 1797 as the 20th lighthouse in the nation, it was built 500 feet from the water’s edge. It wasn’t until 1857 that a newer brick lighthouse was built in its place as the tallest on the peninsula at 45 feet. Recently closed for major structural repairs, the tower is now completely refurbished. Even though you can’t climb it, the property itself still makes for wonderful photo opportunities. Henry David Thoreau was so inspired, he wrote an essay about it in Atlantic Monthly. Highland Lighthouse tours run Saturday through Friday with the first 30-minute tour beginning at 9:15 am and the last tour beginning at 4:30 pm.

Race Point Light Station sits on the tip of the Cape Cod peninsula in Provincetown. It was built in 1876 using cast iron for its exterior and red brick for its lining. The property features an 1874 signal building, 1876 keeper’s house, and 1902 oil house. All of those years are reflective of its tumultuous history. Race Point was first lighted in 1816 25 feet above sea level. It was designed to be one of the earliest revolving lights to be distinguishable from other lighthouses on the Cape. The fog bell that was installed in 1852 was replaced by a steam-driven fog signal in 1873. By 1876, the old stone tower needed rebuilding, and was replaced by the present-day 45-foot brick-lined cast-iron lighthouse. It was electrified in 1957, inspiring the lighthouse’s subsequent modernization including a solar-powered fog signal and a wind turbine. Check the website for tour details and schedules.