When you stand at Cape Spear, you’ll be at the most easterly
point in North America. Come to Cape Spear National Park where
you’ll see panoramic vistas of a coastline carved by the
frigid North Atlantic.
From this vantage point you can watch whales and icebergs in
spring and early summer. The Cape Spear Lighthouse is the oldest
existing lighthouse in Newfoundland. The two-story, wooden structure
was built in 1835 and served as a marine beacon from 1835-1955.
The lighthouse is now a museum where you can look back at the
life of a lighthouse keeper and his family in the early 19th century.
It’s interesting to note that for almost 150 years, the
beacon at Cape Spear has been tended by one family.
The new, modern automated lighthouse is still tended by a descendent
of the first Cantwell at Cape Spear. At Cape Spear, you will also
discover a proud military history. During World War II, two gun
emplacements were constructed to counter the threat of U-boats
against Allied shipping entering and leaving St. John's harbor.
The military installation also had an underground passage and
barracks for the soldiers manning the guns. From downtown St.
John's, Cape Spear is only a short drive away on Route 11.