If you stand here, your back to the sea, the entire population of North America stretches out in front of you. And there’s nothing behind you until Ireland.
Atop dramatic cliffs just southeast of St. John’s, Newfoundland’s oldest surviving lighthouse marks Cape Spear, the most easterly point in North America. The 1836 lighthouse represents the unique design of that period, rising out of the center of the keeper’s house, which has been restored to show the life of a 19th-century lighthouse keeper. This was the home of the same family for 150 years, as generation after generation of Cantwells worked to maintain the light that guided mariners safely past the cape.
You can also explore the remains of Fort Cape Spear, a World War II coastal defense battery that guarded St. John’s and its harbor from German U-boats. Along with its historic significance, Cape Spear is a popular spot for spotting whales and icebergs, and for hikes along the dramatic coast.
