Cape Bonavista Light, Historic lighthouse on Cape Bonavista, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Cape Bonavista Light is a two-story wooden building with a central stone tower painted in bold white and red stripes. The structure sits on the rocky headland and can be spotted from far away across the water.
Built between 1841 and 1843, the lighthouse helped guide ships through the dangerous waters off this coast for over a century. It became a crucial navigation aid during the era when sailing was the main way to move goods and people.
The site functions as a museum where you can see furniture and everyday objects that belonged to lighthouse keepers from the 1870s, giving insight into how they lived on this remote point.
You can visit from May to October when guided tours are offered to explain the lighthouse and its workings. The pathways around the rocky headland can be uneven and exposed to wind, so wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for the weather.
The lighthouse keeps its original Scottish-made Stephenson reflector and lamp system from the 1800s, making it one of the few places in the world with this type of preserved lighthouse equipment. You can see how sailors once read the light patterns to find their way at sea.
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