Cape Spear Lighthouse, Heritage lighthouse at easternmost point of North America, St. John's, Canada
Cape Spear Lighthouse is a limestone structure standing at North America's easternmost point, combining a square light tower with the keeper's residence as one integrated building. The structure rises from the rocky headland overlooking the Atlantic waters around St. John's and dominates the landscape from miles away.
The lighthouse was built in 1836 as Newfoundland's second light station and served as a vital navigation aid through dangerous waters. Over more than a century, it guided countless vessels safely past the rocky headland into St. John's harbor.
The lighthouse represents generations of maritime dedication, with the keeper's residence showing how lighthouse families lived and worked on this isolated headland. Visitors can see the domestic spaces where keepers and their families maintained the light through changing seasons and difficult weather.
The site sits on a rocky headland with paths that can be uneven and exposed to strong coastal winds, so wear sturdy footwear and bring windproof clothing. The area remains accessible year-round, though conditions are most comfortable during warmer months when the sea and sky are clearer.
The site preserves World War II coastal defense bunkers with underground tunnels dug into the rock to protect St. John's from German submarines. These hidden military structures reveal how the headland played a crucial role in defending the harbor during wartime.
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