Peggy’s Point Lighthouse

In the fishing village of Peggy’s Cove, on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, a small white tower with a red lantern sits on a wide sheet of smooth granite. Peggy’s Point Lighthouse is not tall, but it is one of the most photographed lighthouses in Canada.

From wood to concrete

The first light here, built in 1868, was a wooden house with a lantern on the roof. It used a kerosene lamp and a silver-plated reflector. In 1914 a new eight-sided tower of reinforced concrete was built beside it, and its light was first lit in 1915. The old wooden house became the keeper’s home until a hurricane damaged it in 1954.

The light was automated in 1958. Its colour has changed several times over the years, from red to white to green and, since 2007, back to red. Today it gives one red flash every five seconds.

A lighthouse with a post office

For many years the ground floor of the tower held a tiny post office, where visitors could send letters stamped with a lighthouse postmark. It closed in 2009, but the story is still a local favourite.

Visiting tips

• Stay on the viewing area and the dry, pale rocks. The dark, wet rocks near the water are slippery, and large waves can arrive without warning.
• Early morning and evening are quieter and give soft light for photos.
• The village is about 45 minutes by road from Halifax.

Key facts