Louisburg Lighthouse, August, 1998
The original Louisburg Lighthouse was built by the French in 1734, the first lighthouse in Canada and the second in North America. It was severely damaged during the British siege of 1758 and remained in disrepair until it was replaced in 1842. The current tower was built in 1924. Although the first two lighthouses are no longer there, there are remnants of the foundations.
Louisburg is steeped in history. The Fortress of Louisburg, a National Historic Site which now includes the lighthouse, is worthy of a full day visit. Unfortunately, when we visited during our 1998 vacation, we arrived late in the day, and had little time for either the fortress or the lighthouse. But I did get to spend nearly an hour at the lighthouse. It was a fascinating experience just standing and wandering around the site of the first lighthouse in the country, experiencing the history and the sunset.
The lighthouse is accessible by car from Louisburg. Take Havenside Road near the tourist information centre and drive about 3.5 kilometers to Lighthouse Point. The road is paved most of the way.
Nova Scotia Lighthouses - Lorne's Lighthouses
Comments to: Lorne Hull
Last updated: 09 Oct 1999
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