Cape Bonavista Lighthouse

Perched on the cliffs of Newfoundland’s eastern coast, the Cape Bonavista Lighthouse is one of the province’s most iconic and enduring landmarks. Built between 1841 and 1843, it was established to guide mariners navigating the treacherous waters between Bonavista and Trinity Bays.

The lighthouse’s original light apparatus was a marvel of its time. It featured Argand oil lamps and polished silver parabolic reflectors, imported from the famed Bell Rock Lighthouse in Scotland. Later, a catoptric system from the Isle of May was installed by Robert Oke, Newfoundland’s first Chief Inspector of Lighthouses.

For over a century, the lighthouse stood as a guardian of the sea, operated by generations of keepers including Jeremiah White and his sons, who maintained the light from 1842 to 1895. In 1962, the original lighthouse was decommissioned and replaced by an electric light on a nearby steel tower.

Today, the Cape Bonavista Lighthouse is a provincial historic site, restored to reflect its 1870s appearance. Visitors can climb the stone tower, explore exhibits on lighthouse technology and local industry, and even view the original light mechanism—a rare glimpse into the ingenuity of early maritime navigation.Read more