Prescott's history is deeply tied to its relationship with the St. Lawrence River.
Today, you can see two excellent examples of this history at the Rotary Lighthouse and the Heritage Lighthouse, both located near the Sandra S. Lawn Harbour & Marina.
Lighthouses of Prescott
The Rotary Lighthouse was built in 1989 as part of Prescott's Waterfront Redevelopment Project, but its public viewing area dates much earlier.
The oversized lantern room mounted atop the Rotary Lighthouse originally sat atop the Dominion Lighthouse Depot, located at the site of the present day Canadian Coast Guard base in Prescott's west end, and was used to help train new lighthouse keepers. The lantern room is open daily during the tourist season for public viewing, and houses the original Fresnel light (now decommissioned) from its time training lighthouse keepers.
The Heritage Harbour Lighthouse is located at the mouth of Prescott's Harbour, and continues to serve as a functional navigation aid. The lighthouse displays a green light that is on for two seconds and then off for two seconds. The tower stands 6.8 metres tall and can be seen for up to 10 kilometres.
Discover the Stories of Prescott’s Waterfront
Inside Prescott’s Rotary Lighthouse, visitors can explore a series of interpretive panels tracing the evolution of the town’s historic waterfront. Developed in partnership between the Town of Prescott and the Grenville County Historical Society and unveiled in May 2024, the exhibit showcases Prescott’s rich maritime legacy—from the Forwarding Era and Fort Wellington to railcar ferries, local breweries, and the Dominion Lighthouse Depot.
The panels can be viewed as part of a self-guided tour of the lighthouse during the tourism season. At the top of the lighthouse—within the restored beacon room—visitors will also find a panoramic viewfinder, offering an unparalleled perspective of the St. Lawrence River and the surrounding landscape.
Click on the Titles below to explore the Lighthouse Interpretive Panels.
