The goal of this study was de novo sequencing and assembly of the American lobster genome. The American lobster, Homarus americanus (Milne-Edwards 1837), is a decapod crustacean of ecological and commercial importance. It forms the foundation of one of the largest and most valuable fisheries along the northeast Atlantic coast of North America, and also serves as a valuable model organism for the study of neural networks. This genome will provide a valuable tool for both conservation and biomedical advancements.