Panmure Island Lighthouse

Panmure Island Lighthouse, built in 1853, was the second lighthouse on Prince Edward Island. It was built to guide the heavy shipping in eastern Prince Edward Island such as that described in the Royal Gazette, August 25, 1835: “On Sunday last there were one hundred and seventy-five vessels at anchor in the harbour at Three Rivers, chiefly American fishermen.” Panmure Head, as it is sometimes called, was the first of the Island’s octagonal wooden towers. The lighthouse was built at the northeast point of Panmure Island which is, in fact, connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. At high tide ships sometimes met their doom trying to enter Cardigan Bay by crossing over the water covered isthmus. The lighthouse is located at the entrance to Cardigan Bay and Georgetown Harbour.
The sum of twenty pounds was paid to Archibald MacDonald for one acre of his land and right-of-way through his fields to access the lighthouse. Maintenance of the lighthouse was a local government responsibility until PEI joined Confederation in 1873.
The keepers lived in a small cottage, which was later used as an oil house and then a garage. Panmure Island had one of the earliest fog alarms on the Island. The 1908, the Department of Transport built a fog alarm building that operated by a Type F diaphone and compressed air. That alarm was replaced by a Stone-Chance electric fog horn in 1971. The building was declared surplus in 1980 and moved to an adjacent property. In 1909 a spacious two storey house was built. Over the years it deteriorated and was replaced with a one-and-a-half storey cottage in 1957. There were also barns and other sheds as the keepers usually kept animals.
Now, it is completely refurbished back to its original state and a historical site, it features tours to the top of the lighthouse, a gift shop and panoramic views of the ocean. The Sand & Sea Gift Shop is located on the main floor of the Panmure Head Lighthouse. We are committed to offering a wide selection of gift items and souvenirs that are locally hand crafted in PEI. Among our selection we have beach wear: cover-ups, shorts, towels, beach bags and of course, sunscreen and bug repellent; and memorabilia: souvenirs, hoodies and t-shirts, and local art, featuring our beautiful lighthouse.
Panmure Island and surrounding areas are a great place to spend your summer either camping or for a day visit to the beach, park or lighthouse. For more information on the Panmure Island lighthouse please click here.
Visit their website at www.panmureislandlighthouse.ca
The sum of twenty pounds was paid to Archibald MacDonald for one acre of his land and right-of-way through his fields to access the lighthouse. Maintenance of the lighthouse was a local government responsibility until PEI joined Confederation in 1873.
The keepers lived in a small cottage, which was later used as an oil house and then a garage. Panmure Island had one of the earliest fog alarms on the Island. The 1908, the Department of Transport built a fog alarm building that operated by a Type F diaphone and compressed air. That alarm was replaced by a Stone-Chance electric fog horn in 1971. The building was declared surplus in 1980 and moved to an adjacent property. In 1909 a spacious two storey house was built. Over the years it deteriorated and was replaced with a one-and-a-half storey cottage in 1957. There were also barns and other sheds as the keepers usually kept animals.
Now, it is completely refurbished back to its original state and a historical site, it features tours to the top of the lighthouse, a gift shop and panoramic views of the ocean. The Sand & Sea Gift Shop is located on the main floor of the Panmure Head Lighthouse. We are committed to offering a wide selection of gift items and souvenirs that are locally hand crafted in PEI. Among our selection we have beach wear: cover-ups, shorts, towels, beach bags and of course, sunscreen and bug repellent; and memorabilia: souvenirs, hoodies and t-shirts, and local art, featuring our beautiful lighthouse.
Panmure Island and surrounding areas are a great place to spend your summer either camping or for a day visit to the beach, park or lighthouse. For more information on the Panmure Island lighthouse please click here.
Visit their website at www.panmureislandlighthouse.ca