Maine Lighthouses
For most people, lighthouses evoke a sense of history and romance. These seaside towers date back to ancient Egypt, with the 400-foot tall stone Lighthouse of Alexandria built in the 3rd century BC. Most modern lighthouses were built in the 19th or 20th century on a much smaller scale, with a single beacon to light the way for ships, and often, a small room or nearby cottage where the lighthouse keeper could sleep. Today, with advances in GPS technology, lighthouses have become almost obsolete, and are no longer used in most cases — when they are, the light has been automated, so there is no need for a lighthouse keeper. Even though they have lost much of their relevance, many lighthouses still stand on beaches, and serve as beautiful symbols of a bygone era.
Photo by Bernie McCann
Lighthouse lovers who visit Maine will be in luck — the state is home to more than 65 lighthouses along the coast, which are the state’s most photographed images. It may be tough to find the time to see all of the state’s beautiful lighthouses during your visit, but here are a few that you shouldn’t miss.
In the Portland suburb of Cape Elizabeth, the Portland Head Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in the state of Maine. In 1791, local stonemasons Jonathan Bryant and John Nichols built the stunning white stone lighthouse for just over $2,000. In his youth in the 1800s, famous Maine poet Henry Longfellow spent countless hours at Portland Head; he later wrote a poem called “The Lighthouse” about his experiences there. Over the years, the lighthouse was modified and updated many times to keep up with technology and to maintain the building’s quality. In 1989, the building was automated, making it no longer necessary for a lighthouse keeper to live there. In 1992, the keeper’s house was converted into a small museum, which displays that illustrate the long and illustrious history of the lighthouse. Though visitors cannot go inside the lighthouse tower, they are welcome to explore the grounds, take photographs, and visit the museum.
The Museum at Portland Head Light
1000 Shore Road
Cape Elizabeth, Maine 04107
(207) 799-2661
Near the mid-coast town of Rockland, Owl’s Head Lighthouse sits on top of a dramatic rocky cliff. The thirty-foot high brick tower was built in 1825, and is still in use today, though most of its functions have been automated in recent years. The beautiful grounds around the lighthouse have been designated as Owl’s Head Light State Park, and are open to visitors daily; this is a wonderful destination for a scenic picnic lunch.
Owls Head Light State Park
Owls Head, Maine 04854
(207) 941-4014
Burnt Island Lighthouse, located in Boothbay Harbor, is a beautiful 30-foot stone tower that was built in 1821. The lighthouse was automated in 1989, but today, visitors can learn all about the lighthouse’s history by taking the three-hour educational tour, which is available twice a day on Monday through Friday, from July until September.
Burnt Island Light
Balmy Days Cruises’ Novelty, located at Pier 8 in Boothbay Harbor, serves as the ferry to the island. Call (207) 633-2284 for more information on the tours.
With red and white stripes reminiscent of a candy cane, the West Quoddy Head Lighthouse is one of the most distinctive, and most often photographed, lighthouses in the world. Chances are, you’ve probably seen it on a calendar, poster, or even a stamp at some point in your life — but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth visiting close up. The lighthouse, which was built in 1858, has a visitors’ center in the lighthouse keeper’s cottage, though the interior of the lighthouse is not open to the public. The grounds are part of Quoddy Head State Park, and visitors can sometimes see whales and bald eagles in the area.
West Quoddy Head Light
West Quoddy State Park
Lubec, ME
(207) 733-2180
Written by Kathy Hawkins on May 30, 2007
Filed Under Maine, Portland, Coastal, History
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