Peter Island Lighthouse
Location & Light Range
About Peter Island Lighthouse
Also known as: Peter Island (Peter's Island, Westport)
An octagonal pyramidal wooden tower painted white, the Peter Island Lighthouse stands 12.5 meters tall and features a red lantern and gallery. The lighthouse station was first established in 1850, with the current structure built in 1909. While the site is open, the tower itself is closed to the public. The lighthouse ceased operation in December 2014 when its light failed, and by 2023, ownership had transferred to the Municipality of Digby. Emergency repairs to address structural issues, including concerns about the lantern's stability in high winds, were completed by volunteers in 2025. The island is also a protected bird sanctuary.
Why it matters: Designated a Heritage Lighthouse in 2021, Peter Island Lighthouse represents early 20th-century Canadian lighthouse architecture and highlights community efforts in preserving maritime landmarks.
Tower & Structure
- Tower Height
- 12.5m
- Tower Shape
- octagonal
- Tower Color
- white
- Material
- wood
Structure: octagonal pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern is red
Location
- City
- Westport
- Country
- 🇨🇦Canada
- Region
- Nova Scotia
- Sea Region
- Located on an island just off Westport, the principal town of Brier Island. The island, except for the lighthouse, is owned by the Nova Scotia Nature Trust and is closed as a bird sanctuary.
- Latitude
- 44.2573°
- Longitude
- -66.3388°
References & Identifiers
- Nearest Port
- Meteghan(8.4 km)
- ARLHS No.
- CAN-374
Construction & History
- Year Built
- 1909
- Heritage Status
- Heritage Lighthouse 2021
Significant events: station established 1850, Inactive since 2014, light failed in December 2014, designated as a Heritage Lighthouse 2021, Ownership transferred to Municipality of Digby 2023, Engineers outlined urgent problems, lantern could be blown off in a hurricane, 2025 a crew of volunteers completed emergency structural repairs
Visiting
- Open to public
- Site open, tower closed
Nearby Vessels
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