One of the most beautiful drives in the United States is probably along Maine’s coast. Beautiful rocky coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, a lot of lobster, quaint New England towns, Acadia National Park, and numerous iconic Maine lighthouses can all be found there. There are 65 lighthouses in total along the Maine coast, each with a distinctive past and breathtaking scenery.
For hundreds of years, these lighthouses have served as guiding lights for mariners. They are now not only a significant aspect of Maine’s history but also well-liked tourist destinations.
1- Pemaquid Point Lighthouse – Maine Lighthouses
The Pemaquid Point Lighthouse is situated within a park with the same name and is maintained and operated by the Bristol Parks and Recreation Department. At the very tip of Pemaquid Neck, the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse was constructed and first lit in 1827. This historic lighthouse, which was constructed out of concrete and sandstone, was included in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Weather permitting, visitors are invited to stop by the park and lighthouse on a seasonal basis from mid-May until late October. Visitors are also permitted to climb the lighthouse tower. Along with the old fog bell building, the keeper’s residence also houses a museum. The apartment on the second floor of the keepers’ home may occasionally be rented out to overnight visitors.
2- Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse aka Portland Head Light
A lighthouse known as Portland Head Light was constructed in 1791 and is located at the entrance to the main shipping channel into Portland Harbor in the Gulf of Maine. The oldest lighthouse in Maine can be found in Cape Elizabeth. Whale oil lamps were used to provide illumination initially, but in 1855 a Fourth Order Fresnel lens took their place.
The US Coast Guard is in charge of maintaining the beacon, tower, and foghorn at the light station, which is still automated and in operation. A maritime museum is now housed in the former lighthouse keepers’ residence, which is now a part of Fort Williams Park.
3- Cape Neddick Light Or Nubble Light In York, Maine
The Cape Neddick Lighthouse, also referred to as “The Nubble Light,” is located on the Nubble, a tall, rocky island. The Nubble, which has a surface area of about 2.5 acres, is separated from the mainland by a narrow channel that is only about 100 feet wide. The brick-lined, 41-foot cast-iron tower was lit on July 1st, 1879. The Cape Neddick Light was automated in 1987, rendering the lighthouse keeper’s job unnecessary.
The lighthouse is known for being the most frequented lighthouse in Maine and has a long history of serving as a tourist destination. Currently, the public cannot visit the island, but they can admire its beauty from Sohier Park. The lighthouse is picturesque all year round, but visiting during the holiday season when the building is illuminated with white LED lights will be a special treat.
4- West Quoddy Head Light – Maine Lighthouses
The easternmost point of the US, Lubec, Maine, is home to West Quoddy Head Light, which is situated in Quoddy Head State Park. Since its construction in 1808, West Quoddy Head Light has provided secure access to the shops via Quoddy Narrows.
The distinctive circular, 49-foot-high brick tower with pronounced red and white stripes that is still in use today replaced the original lighthouse tower in 1858. One of the few Fresnel lenses still in use on the Maine Coast is its vintage Third Order Fresnel lens. The National Register of Historic Places lists West Quoddy.
5- Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse: Bass Harbor, Maine
Bass Harbor Light is a lighthouse in Acadia National Park that is perched high on a cliff, guarding an endless sea. To identify the entrance to Bass Harbor on Mount Desert Island’s southwest coast, it is situated in the village of Bass Harbor. On a stone foundation, the lighthouse was constructed in 1858 using brick. It rises 56 feet above sea level.
In 1876, a fog bell and a tower were added, and in 1898, the fog bell was replaced with a larger, 4,000-pound bell. The Fourth Order Fresnel, which had a 13-nautical-mile range, took the place of the Fifth Order Fresnel that had been the original lens in 1901. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places is the lighthouse. The Tremont Historical Society can arrange tours that only include the lighthouse tower.
6- Marshall Point Lighthouse: Port Clyde, Maine
This lighthouse may be recognizable to visitors as the one from “Forest Gump.” During his arduous cross-country journey, Tom Hanks ran out on the wooden runway to the tower and back. Built in 1858, the historic 24-foot building in southern Maine also included the keeper’s house, museum, and gardens. Hike over to the quaint fishing village of Port Clyde after touring the lighthouse. Take a cruise with Monhegan Boat Line to see local wildlife, such as puffins, minke whales, and harbor seals, while you’re there, or gorge on lobster and seafood.
7- Owls Head Lighthouse
The Owls Head Lighthouse at Penobscot Bay serves as a constant aid to marine navigation. Since it was constructed in 1825, the lighthouse has served as the captains’ eyes and ears in bad weather. The Owls Head Lighthouse, which is 30 feet above sea level and belongs to the U.S. Coast Guard, is currently licensed by the American Lighthouse Foundation. Travelers can explore the interpretive center built by the American Lighthouse Foundation and the lighthouse by going through Owls Head State Park. Explore the immaculate keeper’s home while hearing tales about the lighthouse’s fascinating, occasionally eerie past.
8- Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse: South Portland, Maine
The only caisson-style tower in the nation that is accessible on foot is this lighthouse. The location at the end of a 950-foot breakwater, which provides outstanding views of Portland Harbor and the nearby Casco Bay Islands, makes the setting memorable. Not only does the Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse play a crucial role in directing ships home, but it also alerts them to the dangerous waters approaching Portland Harbor. Visit Cushing’s Point House Museum and Portland Breakwater Light at Bug Light Park, which is next door, after you’ve explored the attraction (also known as Bug Light).
9- Wood Island Lighthouse
When visiting the Wood Island Lighthouse, you will hear interesting and memorable stories from the Edge of the Sea. It is the fifth-oldest lighthouse in Maine and has a past that is closely tied to the nation’s maritime history. For more than 200 years, the Wood Island Lighthouse has been obediently illuminating the way for ships entering the Gulf of Main. The lighthouse keepers and their families, who have many tales to tell about the colorful past of this isolated outpost, welcome visitors who want to hear amazing tales from them. Learn tales of murders, tragic suicides, unbelievable acts of heroism, shipwrecks, and ghosts while strolling around the charming grounds of the Wood Island Lighthouse.
10- Doubling Point Lighthouse
The Kennebec River Lighthouse, also known as Doubling Point Light, was built in 1898 on the Kennebec River’s sharp double bend around Arrowsic Island, not far from Bath’s shipbuilding district. The lighthouse itself was only manned by two keepers at the station from 1898 to 1935.
Merritt Pinkham, a former keeper at the remote Seguin Light, was the first keeper. He remained at the light until 1945, when he was 85 years old. The station’s second and final keeper until 1935 was Charles W. Allen, who had previously worked at the Boon Island and Eagle Island lighthouses.
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