A unique experience awaits visitors to the scenic community of Barrington on Nova Scotia’s South Shore, where the Seal Island Lighthouse Museum had stood sentinel by the headwaters of the Barrington River for 30 years. Operated by the Cape Sable Historical Society, visitors can tour the five story, 35 foot tall replica of the original 60 foot lighthouse whose beacon still guides mariners from Seal Island, which is located approximately 18 miles offshore.
Inside the museum are numerous artifacts from the local area chronicling the lives of local lighthouse keepers and the area’s rich seafaring history. The museum houses the second order Fresnel lens, which was in use from 1902 to 1978 in the Seal Island Lighthouse as well as the 4th order lens that was used at the Bon Portage Light. A panoramic view of Barrington Bay is visible from the top of the lighthouse museum.
A well-appointed tax-free gift shop featuring museum and locally made items is an added feature at this historic site.
