UP FRONT | LIGHTHOUSES

MAINE LIGHT CONNECTICUT With nearly 70 lighthouses The Stonington Harbor in the state, there are plenty Light (stoningtonhistory. of options. One to check out org), also known as the is the Portland Head Light Old Lighthouse, was built (portlandheadlight.com) in THE NIGHT in 1840 and maintained Cape Elizabeth, just outside its light until 1889; the of downtown Portland. In Historic landmarks are quintessential keepers’ house was used 1787, the General Court of until 1909. When the U.S. Massachusetts (then the New England government decided to state’s legislature) provided sell the lighthouse and $750 to begin construction its keepers’ house, the of the lighthouse, and in By Susan B. Barnes Stonington Historical 1790, Congress approved Society paid $3,650 in another $1,500 for its IGHTHOUSES HAVE BEEN A part of America’s landscape 1925 and opened the completion. The original since 1673, when a simple beacon was raised in Nan- first lighthouse museum 72-foot tower was first lit in tasket (now Hull), Mass., to help sailors navigate North in the country in 1927. January 1791. The lighthouse American waters. Explore our country’s maritime past Today’s visitors can climb was automated in 1989, and with a visit to these New England attractions: 29 circular steps and a today visitors can tour the L short ladder to reach the former keepers’ quarters, top for views of three which is now a museum. states on a clear day.

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Rosemont Market Watch the & Bakery’s Cape sun set over Elizabeth location Stonington Harbor on Shore Road is at Breakwater, a terrific place to a waterfront grab a picnic lunch restaurant with before heading fresh seafood out to the park. menu items, including a raw bar.

Stonington Harbor Light STAY STAY

The dog-friendly The 18-room Inn Inn by the Sea at Stonington is is an idyllic spot ideally located to sit back and on the village’s relax with your Portland Head Light waterfront and favorite pup within walking GETTY IMAGES; MAINE OFFICE after a full day OF TOURISM; CONNECTICUT distance of exploring Cape OFFICE OF TOURISM restaurants, shops Elizabeth. and galleries. VERMONT MASSACHUSETTS NEW HAMPSHIRE RHODE ISLAND

A lighthouse in a land-locked The Cape Ann Light Station at Before the American Revolution, Imagine watching the sun rise and state such as Vermont may Thacher Island (thacherisland. a 50-foot wooden lighthouse set from the comfort and solitude seem a bit odd, but the org) in Rockport, constructed was built in 1771 at Fort William of a lighthouse a mile off the Colchester Reef Lighthouse in 1771, has the distinction of and Mary on Great Island, known coast of Newport, in Narragansett (newenglandlighthouses.net/ being the last lighthouse built today as the town of New Bay. That’s just what you’ll enjoy colchester-reef) in Shelburne under British rule, and is home Castle, and its original light was when you reserve one of the five was built in 1871 to warn to the only operating twin cast from three oil lamps. The rooms available for overnight stays mariners of three dangerous lighthouses in the U.S. The Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse at the Rose Island Lighthouse reefs found in Lake Champlain. 120-plus-foot granite towers (portsmouthharborlighthouse. (roseisland.org), which was built Built with a post-and-beam as they stand today were org) was renovated in 1784, in 1869 and activated in 1870 (and frame and 1.5-inch-thick iron completed in 1861, and the and in 1793, President George deactivated in 1971). The lighthouse rods to withstand strong lake- island and its structures were Washington ordered that the shares its 18-acre island home effect winds, the lighthouse designated a National Historic light be maintained at all times. with the Fort Hamilton Barracks fulfilled its mission until it was Landmark by the National Park Today, a 48-foot iron lighthouse, and a wildlife refuge inhabited by equipped with a battery- Service in 2001. Visitors to the erected in 1878, stands on the birds and harbor seals. Guests can powered beacon in 1933. The twin lights can climb the 156 previous tower’s foundation. This enjoy beachcombing and explore structure fell into disrepair, and steps to the top for views of newer lighthouse was assembled the tidal pools, lighthouse, barracks in 1952 it was dismantled and the Boston skyline to the south inside the original structure, and gardens. resurrected on the grounds of and the mountains of Maine to which was eventually removed. the Shelburne Museum, where the northwest. Visitors can climb the 44 stairs it now proudly stands watch and seven-rung ladder into the over the 220-foot steamboat lantern room for a look at the Ticonderoga. fourth-order Fresnel lens.

Cape Ann Light Station Rose Island Lighthouse

THACHER ISLAND ASSOCIATION DISCOVER NEWPORT Colchester Reef Lighthouse Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse

ADDISON ZINNER JEREMY D’ENTREMONT

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Shelburne’s Bring Fido along Cape Ann Although it dates Grab a seat on The chic Ale Newport’s If you’d rather not own Fiddlehead and stay at Brewing back to the 1850s, the outdoor House Inn in Broadway spend the night Brewing the Made INN Company is a the Emerson deck at BG’s Portsmouth’s District features in the lighthouse, Company Vermont, an local hot spot Inn is anything BoatHouse Market Square six blocks of but still long for typically crafts urban boutique for good food but antiquated. Restaurant & district is dining options water views, an original bed- and- to enjoy while Instead, its comfy Marina, order up within walking with a variety of opt for Gurney’s recipe every breakfast sipping craft accommodations some chowder distance of the offerings. Newport Resort other week, so in nearby brew. are complemented or steamers and city’s shops, and Marina on there’s always Burlington’s by modern-day watch the boats. restaurants and Goat Island, which something new Historic Hill amenities. historic sites. is surrounded to try. district. by Narragansett Bay.