A true historic lighthouse, Souris East Lighthouse, as it was known, was built in 1880 to a design by the Department of Marine and Fisheries. Operated and maintained by a resident lighthouse keeper until 1959, it had living quarters attached until being removed in that year. In 1961 the sixty foot tall lighthouse became automated, housing one of only four 400 Watt mercury vapor lamps in Canada. These later became standard across the country.
Today the lighthouse is open to the public, housing an interpretive centre, with a gift shop and wash rooms adjacent. Outside, near the lighthouse, are some informational plaques, one of which contains this timeline.
Built in 1880, Souris East Lighthouse is a white and red square tapered wood constructed tower standing 14.3 meters above the cliff on Knight Point overlooking the town of Souris. Souris was incorporated in 1910 and the Souris East Lighthouse has always been the symbol of the town and area. In 1991, Frank McIntosh, the last lighthouse keeper on PEI, retired from the Souris East Light.
Tours to the Top
Discover the history and panoramic seascape views of the Harbour and Town of Souris. Visitors can climb the 45 steps to the lantern room, proceed to the outer platform to enjoy and photograph the panoramic view of Colville Bay, the fishing, pleasure and commercial boats docked at the port, the Northumberland Strait, the Town of Souris, the Isle de Madeleine ferry, and, on a clear day, the Cape Breton Highlands.
The lighthouse houses an interpretative center with a history of the Lighthouse and the Souris Port.
Jewels of the Sea
Learn about the history and formation of sea glass through interpretation and displays. The Lighthouse houses a large sea glass interpretative display about the history and formation of sea glass and the resulting “jewels of the sea”.
Souris by the Sea Treasures is a new gift shop located on the lighthouse property.
From the Souris Harbour Authority
The Timeline
• 1879 - Tenders were invited for constructing a lighthouse on Knight's Point.
• 1880 - The lighthouse was completed for the cost of $630 and placed in operation.
• 1881 - The light was altered to show a streak of red to indicate the anchorage ground sheltered by the breakwater.
• 1907 - A fourth-order, double-flashing Fresnel lens was placed in the lantern room of the East Souris Lighthouse. The new signature of the light was one group of two flashes every five seconds.
• 1920 - Frank McIntosh becomes keeper of the Souris East Lighthouse. He is responsible for the main light at Knight's Point as well as the beacon on the breakwater.
• 1927 - The keeper of the Lighthouse was supplied a hand fog horn.
• 1959 - The dwelling to the lighthouse was removed, when a new house was built for the keeper.
• 1961 - The light becomes electrified.
• 1991 - Francis McIntosh, grandson of Frank McIntosh and the last remaining active keeper on Prince Edward Island, retires.
• 2010 - The lighthouse is renovated and reopened to accommodate interpretative tours to the top tower, interpretation and history of sea glass and a seaside arts and craft outlet called
Souris by the Sea Treasures.