If you’re looking for a place to spend an afternoon with incredible views, fresh sea air, and plenty of space to roam and have a BBQ, the Green Point lighthouse is the spot! It’s easily accessible by vehicle (Lighthouse Road, Port de Grave Peninsula, Newfoundland) with multiple parking areas and there seem to always be locals and tourists enjoying the summer here. If you park in the first parking area, you’ll see a grassy trail that you can choose to walk to see the lighthouse (highly recommend taking this route).
The Green Point lighthouse was built in 1883 and the first lightkeeper was Robert Andrews. The tower holds a fixed white light and sixth-order lens inside the lantern room, which is beautiful with its triangular-glazed windows. This lighthouse is cylindrical, made from cast-iron, and painted with horizontal red and white stripes. Below the lantern room on the NE side of the tower is a protruding window which I think may have been a mini lantern room with extra lights at some point. I’m honestly unsure, but if you happen to know what this little window was used for, please let me know in a comment.
The mini protruding window isn’t the only interesting feature of this lighthouse. Very similar to the Brigus Lighthouse, the Green Point lighthouse has the stars on the supports of the crow’s nest as well. I really admire details like those on old structures and buildings. Both of those lighthouses were built between 1883-1885 so perhaps I’ll do a bit of research about that time and see what I can find out about the stars. There’s another window on the SW side of the tower that is smaller but still adorable with its simple four-pane style.
Sometime in the 1930s, a change was made to the lens from kerosene to electricity, which also made a change happen with the lightkeeper. Since maintenance on the tower was less frequent with the use of electricity and a lightkeeper was no longer needed full-time, the lightkeeper’s dwelling was torn down, and only the tower remains today. I saw a solar panel on the lighthouse when I visited, so I’m assuming that another change has happened from electricity to solar energy, or perhaps the solar panel is a back-up energy source. To be determined!
This is an incredible place to have a picnic and enjoy the afternoon here in Newfoundland, despite the location being a bit rugged and exposed at the tip of the Port de Grave peninsula. You can enjoy checking out the lighthouse, or exploring the meadow full of wildflowers, or watching the ocean for whales and boats, or even birdwatching the sky and coastline. Honestly, I think you could do nothing out here except lay on the grass and feel completely content. This might not be the Heart’s Content Lighthouse, but my heart was quite content being out here with the waves crashing along the coast and seeing other people happy and enjoying themselves as well.
Before leaving the area, I noticed a cute signpost in the parking lot and had to stop and take a photo. This also reminded me of the signpost over at the Brigus Lighthouse and brought a smile to my face. I love our island so much, and I’m glad locals and tourists enjoy exploring it and we, as Newfoundlanders, are doing our best to make this place beautiful and a pleasure to visit and explore. I enjoy sharing parts of this island with you and thank you for tagging along for the adventure with me.
Until next time…
Whoa Dana 