Famous Lighthouses of Lake Havasu

Lighthouse enthusiasts might be surprised to find over a dozen lighthouses nestled in the southwest desert, along the shoreline of Lake Havasu. These are workable lighthouses, and they not only have a story, they each tell one.

The stories they impart are of lighthouses from other areas across the country and Canada. The Lake Havasu versions are reproductions of well known lighthouses. And while they may be smaller versions of the originals, they still provide navigational aid for the boaters of Lake Havasu.

The organization behind this project is the Lake Havasu Lighthouse Club, which was formed around 2000, when local boaters wanted to improve navigation on Lake Havasu.

Reportedly their inspiration came from the Lake Havasu Lighthouse, which was installed near the entrance of the Lake Havasu Marina, prior to the organization setting into motion its ambitious project. The Lake Havasu Lighthouse stands 17 feet tall, with an amber beacon that rotates 60 times per minute.

The first lighthouse erected by the organization was a replica of the West Quoddy Lighthouse, located in Lubec Maine. Havasu's West Quoddy is situated on the Island, at the Bridgewater Channel's west end. It stands 18' tall and was dedicated in June of 2002.

Four months later they dedicated the Havasu version of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, from North Caroline. Standing 30' tall, Havasu's Cape Hatteras is located near Windsor State Park.

More lighthouses began to spring up. Replicas included Michigan's Robert R. Manning, installed at the entrance to Crazyhorse Campground. There was New York's Main Buffalo Lighthouse, lighting the way on the south end of the Bridgewater Channel. And in other locations: Minnesota's Split Rock, North Carolina's Currituck, New Jersey's Barnegat and Sandy Hook, Ohio's Vermillion, California's Table Bluff, Canada's East Quoddy, Michigan's Alpena, Maine's Mount Desert Rock, and Louisana's Berwick.

Each lighthouse is sponsored by a group, individuals or organizations. Future lighthouses are planned, which include the Boston Lighthouse, Fire Island, White Shoal, Lightship, Umpqua River, Montauk Point, Algoma Pierhead, Windpoint and Pemaquid.

Lake Havasu City, located on Lake Havasu's Arizona shoreline, is known as the home of the London Bridge, which was reconstructed in the infant desert community and officially opened in October of 1971. Today sightseers to the desert community can view more than the famous London Bridge. Now they can tour some of the most famous lighthouses in our country, all on one body of water. And while they may be replicas, and pint sized in comparison, they will definitely give those seekers of lighthouses an educational and entertaining tour.