Cape Forchu lighthouse

Owned by the Municiipality of the District of Yarmouth

For visitor information, go to Cape-Forchu-Lighthouse  website.

View No Ka Oi Drone Video - Cape Forchu & Bunker Island Lighthouses, Nova Scotia, Canada

The Cape Forchu lighthouse, on a headland at the south western tip of Nova Scotia, is the light for the town of Yarmouth and its harbour. The structure rests 37.5 meters (125 ft.) above sea level, is nestled into jagged rocks and offers a breath-taking natural vista.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Friends of the Yarmouth Light Society and Kathy Brown
Photo -  © Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Cape Forchu Lighthouse, near Yarmouth Nova Scotia

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Early History

The Original Cape Forchu Lighthouse
From a poster showing the first Cape Forchu Lighthouse known as "The Old Yarmouth Light."

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Friends of the Yarmouth Light Society

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Later History

The Cape Forchu light has always been a tourist attraction. The old timber tower was much photographed, so when the Coast Guard decided in 1961 that it must be replaced, town and tourist officials requested that the new light tower be built along the lines of the old. In October, they were assured by their MP that the new tower would be an outward replica of the old and "there will be no change in the splendid harbour vista." There was considerable controversy, therefore, when the community saw the concrete "apple core" tower rising at the head of the Cape! Many thought the vista was ruined. But, tourists continued to flock there and by 1980 the "apple core" itself was being called "the old Yarmouth light!"

The additional height of the 22.9 metre octagonal concrete tower and the added power of the new dioptric lens added 10 miles to visibility, so that the light can be seen for 22 miles to seaward. Electricity is provided by a cable run from the town of Yarmouth. In 1980, Cape Forchu became the monitoring station for automated lighthouses on the South Shore, using the Intrac 2000 system. In 1993, Cape Forchu was automated and destaffed. Monitoring was transferred to L'Etete, New Brunswick.

Photo - © Chris Mills, Cape Forchu Light Tower

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The Keepers House

Cape Forchu is Nova Scotia's only intact lightstation open to the public. All the others have lost one or more keeper's houses and outbuildings. 

The big keeper's house, built before 1940, is now a restaurant and gift shop. You can enjoy a tasty breakfast or lunch, including lobster rolls, seafood chowder, bakery items and ice cold beer.  There's even a golf cart shuttle service, with friendly hosts available to answer questions and bring you up the steep hill.

Photo - © Chris Mills, Cape Forchu Lighthouse before De-Staffing in 1993
The Canadian Coast Guard Flag was flown below the Canadian Flag when lighthouses were staffed.

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The Lightouse Today

The Cape Forchu Light Station was the first light station in Canada to be passed over to a municipality by federal government divestiture under the "96-1" arrangements. Through the untiring efforts of volunteer Craig Harding, the lighthouse, land, and all the buildings were deeded to the Municipality of Yarmouth County by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in March, 2001. Tragically, Craig died of cancer that April, but he was presented with the deed before he passed away.

Craig led the Friends of the Yarmouth Light in a six year fight to save the station for public use. It was in grave danger of being sold to developers. The magnificent rocky site, with a grand view of the entrance to the Bay of Fundy, is now preserved for everyone to enjoy. The NSLPS Craig Harding Award is awarded annually in his honour to a person or group which has done exceptional work to save Nova Scotia’s lighthouses.

The light station is now owned and operated by the Municipality of the District of Yarmouth. This magnificent site is well worth a visit!

Recipient, first Craig Harding Award for Lighthouse Preservation, 2001, along with Craig Harding.

Photo - © Chris Mills, Cape Forchu Lighthouse Before 1993

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Cape Forchu Lighthouse Locator Map

Located near the extreme southwest portion of Nova Scotia, Cape Forchu is a forked tongue of land, discovered in the 17th century by Samuel de Champlain, at the west entrance point into the busy Yarmouth Harbour.  It is a light viewed by thousands annually as they enter Canada from the United States en route from two ferries that serve the Harbour. From the base of the light, there is a magnificent view of the Gulf of Maine to the west, which is enlivened even more by the setting sun. A view to the south shows several off-lying islands, and during certain times, a body of water teeming with busy fishing boats and crashing waves.

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CAPE FORCHU I - Light Details

• Location: West side entrance to Yarmouth Harbour
• Standing: This light is no longer standing.
• Operating: This light is no longer operating.
• Began: 1839
• Year Lit: 1840
• Structure Type: Octagonal wood tower, white & red
• Light Characteristic: Flashing White (1941)
• Tower Height: 059ft feet high.
• Light Height: 117ft feet above water level.

History Items for This Lighthouse

• 1840 - 1st order Fresnel lens, now on display in museum, revolving white
• 1869 - first fog alarm in operation - 1922 - 1941 - 2nd order dioptric lens
• 1960 - compressed air diaphone fog horn from separate building
• 1962 - replaced by present tower

CAPE FORCHU II - Light Details

• Location: West side entrance to Yarmouth Harbour
• Standing: This light is still standing.
• Operating: This light is operational
• Automated: All operating lights in Nova Scotia are automated.
• Date Automated: Automated by 1993
• Began: 1962
• Year Lit: 1962
• Structure Type: Hexagonal concrete tower, red & white, Applecore
• Light Characteristic: Flashing White (1992)
• Tower Height: 075ft feet high.
• Light Height: 123ft feet above water level.
• Solarized: This light has been solarized.

History Items for This Lighthouse

• 1961 - design a stylized hexagonal tower to represent old tower
• 1990 - served as monitoring station for 20 automated lights
• 1995 - lease obtained on the land by Yarmouth Co. Tourist Assoc.

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Lightkeepers for Cape Forchu Lighthouse

• Fox, Lt. James C. 1839-1840
• Fox, Cornelius J.T. 1840-1873
• Fox, Robert Braddon 1873-1874
• Doane, Capt. John H. 1874-1904
• Doane, Thomas 1904-1922
• Cunningham, Herbert 1922-1952
• Smith, Albert 1952-1963
• Baker, Ray 1963-1964
• Chetwynd, J.E. 1964-1972
• Flemming, D. Earl 1972-1977
• O'Connell, Wayne 1977-1977
• Wentzell, Lawrence 1977-1988
• Goodwin, Walter 1986-1991
• Murphy, Vicent 1989-1992
• Fairservice, Marjorie 1992-1993
• Murphy, Vincent 1993

Although Marlorie Fairservice was the last lightkeeper, bear in mind that she was not carrying out traditional keeper's duties (as were none of the last three), but mainly kept on to monitor the Intrac equipment, as Cape Forchu was the main monitoring point for about 20 stations.