This is an active Coast Guard Base and the lighthouse is not open to the public outside of these open house times!
Our open houses are every Sunday from late May (Memorial Day weekend) through mid-October (Columbus Day weekend) from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The admission to climb the lighthouse is $4 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under.
No reservations are needed; tours are on a first come, first served basis. No children under 42 inches tall are permitted to climb to the top, and adults are not permitted to carry children up the stairs. Visitors get to climb to the lantern room to enjoy the magnificent view and to see the fourth-order Fresnel lens up close. Volunteers will tell visitors about the history of the light station, and there will be souvenirs for sale.
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There are 44 stairs to the watch room and a 7-rung ladder to the lantern room. Flat shoes (not sandals or flip-flops) are strongly recommended to climb the ladder into the lantern room.
We need more volunteers to help with our open houses! If you’re interested in helping let us know at info@portsmouthharborlighthouse.org.
