Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse National Historic Site - Historic Places Days

Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse National Historic Site

Rimouski, Québec
Type
Lighthouse
Address
1034, Du Phare Street, Rimouski, QC
Get directions
Hours
https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/qc/pointeaupere
Phone
1 888 773-8888

From atop Pointe-au-Père lighthouse, the St. Lawrence appears even more magnificent than at ground level. On the shore of what is considered one of the most difficult waterways to navigate, the Pointe-au-Père navigational aid station has provided the best pilots to take charge of ships sailing between North America and Europe, making it a vital site. As well, it was also off Pointe-au-Père that the grand cruise ship, the Empress of Ireland, tragically sank in 1914.

Notes from "Familiar landmarks: heritage lighthouses in Canada"

Keepers from every corner

During the Heritage Places Days, from 8 July 2023, let yourself be guided by the stories of lighthouses and the families who have occupied them. These familiar landmarks have a lot to tell!

The origins of the first families of lighthouse keepers in the St. Lawrence Estuary are as diverse as its landscape. The first keeper of the Cap Gaspé lighthouse in Forillon National Park was Charles Esnouf. This Jersey native was hired in 1873. His son, Charles D. Esnouf, then occupied the post until 1893. In the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Placide Vigneau and his son Hector, of Acadian descent, both kept the lighthouse on Ile-aux-Perroquets from 1892 to 1948. On the other side of the river, at Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse National Historic Site, Thomas M. Wyatt and his son Robert W. did the same (circa 1918 to 1936). Of English origin, they would also have had ancestors in Labrador, in the Forteau Bay area, where generations of Wyatts kept the Point Amour lighthouse as of 1879.

From the West Coast to the Maritimes, lighthouse keepers’ houses are often true family residences, even if they are publicly owned. It’s reassuring to have your loved ones around when you live on isolated islands or coasts, no matter where you come from.

Which lighthouse would you live near with your family?

Discover designated heritage lighthouses in Canada 

Amenities

  • Family-Friendly
  • Food and Beverages
  • Guided Tour
  • National Historic Site
  • Parking
  • Parkland
  • Washrooms
  • Wheelchair Access

Location

1034, Du Phare Street, Rimouski, QC
Get directions

Nearby Places

Jardins de Métis / Reford Gardens

Price, Québec
Lieu historique national du Canada et site patrimonial du Québec, les Jardins de Métis f…
View Place | Get Directions

Phare de Matane

Matane, Québec
Phare-musée de Matane (1906) adjacent au Bureau d’accueil touristique de La Matanie
View Place | Get Directions

Église Sainte-Amélie

Baie-Comeau, Québec
Espace muséal vivant au cœur Baie-Comeau, avec des valeurs artistiques et historiques.
View Place | Get Directions

Site patrimonial de pêche Matamajaw

Causapscal, Québec
Museum focused on the tangible and intangible heritage of salmon fishing in the region.
View Place | Get Directions

Popular VisitLists Including "Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse National Historic Site"

My Lighthouse list!

Amherstburg, Ontario to Grand Manan, New Brunswick 20 places
Lighthouses. Everyone needs a beacon of light once in a while!
View VisitList

Familiar landmarks: heritage lighthouses in Canada

Victoria, British Columbia to 4 places
Stories about Canadian heritage lighthouses, their keepers and families.
View VisitList

Canada to do #VisitList

Coquitlam, British Columbia to Rimouski, Québec 6 places
To Visit, and To Visit again #VisitList #HistoricPlacesCanada
View VisitList

Following "Familiar landmarks: heritage lighthouses in Canada"

Back to the VisitList

Stories about Canadian heritage lighthouses, their keepers and families.

Register A Place

Create an account to add your historic place.

Make a VisitList

Welcome! To get started on a VisitList, you’ll need to have an account with #HistoricPlacesDays.


Already have an account? to sign in.
We use your contact information to process your registration and correspond with you about the National Trust and its programs. You can unsubscribe at any time. We care about your privacy. Read our privacy statement.

Sign In

Sites that participate in #HistoricPlacesDays need to have an account.

Welcome! To get started on a new VisitList or to edit an existing one, you’ll need to have an account with #HistoricPlacesDays. Sign in below!


Not registered? Click here to create an account.

Forgot Password

Enter your email address to request a password reset.


to sign in.

Get the latest scoop on everything #HistoricPlacesDays – join our e-newsletter and never miss a beat.