“The Lighthouse State” invites visitors to explore these coastal sentinels
Lighthouse Day logo from 2011.
Visitors are invited to 22 of Maine’s “saviors of the seacoast” from the Piscataqua River on the Maine-New Hampshire line to Lubec near the border with New Brunswick, Canada, during the fifth annual Maine Open Lighthouse Day on Saturday, September 14. Entry between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. is free. Coordinated by the U.S. Coast Guard in partnership with the Maine Office of Tourism and the American Lighthouse Foundation, this is the largest effort of its kind in the country.
Maine is sometimes referred to as “The Lighthouse State.” Its first lighthouse was built in 1792, and these distinctive landmarks still help mariners navigate tricky waters and many little islands, ledges and shoals. By the turn of the 20th century, at least 70 lighthouses guarded Maine’s seacoast, deepest rivers and even one lake. Today, 65 of these lighthouses still stand. Over the decades, Maine’s iconic lighthouses have become more than directional aids. They’ve developed a distinctive look with architectural beauty and proportion that also speak to Yankee ingenuity – both quirky and scientific, like the keepers who have manned them.
Many of Maine’s lighthouses can be seen by boat, some only with ground visitation, and some are celebrated by museums or as displays within buildings. Click here for suggested itineraries and activities at participating lighthouses.
Participating Lighthouses
South Coast
Wood Island Lighthouse (offshore at Biddeford Pool)
Greater Portland and Casco
Portland Breakwater Lighthouse (South Portland) — Tower referred to as “Bug Light”
Portland Head Lighthouse (Cape Elizabeth) — Tower reached by climbing 85+ steps
Spring Point Lighthouse (South Portland) — Reached via a breakwater
Mid-Coast
Burnt Island Lighthouse (Boothbay Harbor) — Reached via Balmy Day Cruises in Boothbay Harbor
Curtis Island Lighthouse (Camden)
Doubling Point Lighthouse (Arrowsic, along the Kennebec River)
Fort Point Lighthouse (Stockton Springs) — Contains a fourth-order Fresnel lens
Grindle Point Lighthouse (Islesboro) — Reached via the Maine State Ferry from Lincolnville to Islesboro
Kennebec River Front Range Light (Arrowsic, along the Kennebec River)
Marshall Point Lighthouse (Port Clyde)
Monhegan (Monhegan Island) — Reached via Monhegan Boat Line in Port Clyde, Balmy Day Cruises in Boothbay Harbor or Hardy Boat Cruises
Owls Head Lighthouse (Owls Head) — Contains a fourth-order Fresnel lens
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse (Bristol) — Contains a fourth-order Fresnel lens
Rockland Breakwater (Rockland) — Reached via a 7/8-mile-long walk along the breakwater or by boat
Seguin Island (off Popham Beach) — Reached via Seguin Island Ferry; contains Maine’s only first-order Fresnel lens
Whitehead Island Lighthouse (near Sprucehead) — Reached via boat (complimentary with reservation)
Downeast
Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse (Mount Desert Island)
Burnt Coat Harbor Lighthouse (Swan’s Island) — Reached via the Maine State Ferry from BassHarbor
Dyce (Dice) Head Lighthouse (Castine)
West Quoddy Head Lighthouse (Lubec) — Contains a third-order Fresnel lens
Other lighthouse activities during Maine Open Lighthouse Day weekend
Maine Lighthouse Museum (Rockland) — At the Maine Discover Center. Contains the nation’s largest collection of Fresnel lenses and therefore a good opportunity to learn about the “order” of these boosters; I’m curious and wish I were closer.
Lighthouse Sunset Cruise (Rockland) — Sunset cruise departs from Rockland Harbor at 4 p.m. with close-up views of five Mid-Coast lighthouses
Whitehead Light Station (near Sprucehead) – “Be a Lightkeeper for the Weekend,” two-night stay from September 13 at 4 p.m. through September 15 at 4 p.m.
Whaleback Day – The state’s southernmost lighthouse puts on during the first-ever “Whaleback Day” with events on both the Maine and New Hampshire sides of the Piscataqua River. Though the wave-swept lighthouse will not be open to the public, a special Whaleback Day cruise provides a close-up view of Whaleback Lighthouse.