Georges Island Lighthouse, Maritime lighthouse in South End, Halifax, Canada
Georges Island Lighthouse is a white concrete structure with red vertical striping and a matching red dome, standing roughly 16 meters tall on an island in Halifax Harbour. The octagonal tower is an automated navigation aid that continues to serve the region's maritime traffic.
The original wooden tower built in 1876 was destroyed by fire in 1916, prompting the construction of the current concrete structure in 1917. This replacement was designed to serve maritime navigation reliably for the long term.
Georges Island is named after King George II, and its military role long predates the light: a battery was placed there in 1750, it served as a prison during the Acadian deportation of 1755–1763, and a star-shaped fort was built in 1798, with a Martello tower added in 1812. The island was declared a National Historic Site in 1965, and the lighthouse now serves as a museum.
The lighthouse stands on Georges Island in Halifax Harbour and is reached only by boat; the keeper's brick house remains a few hundred feet north of the tower. The site is a National Historic Site, and the tower now serves as a museum. Landing requires prior authorisation, so check access arrangements before setting out.
The lighthouse was used by the U.S. Navy for training exercises in the summer of 2006. Its keepers' log lists Robert Ross, in charge from 1876 to 1920, and Victor Maynard Matthews, keeper from 1946 to 1964.
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