Maine Lighthouses
Maine
Our visits: So far 2 visits in October 2008 and October 2010
West Quoddie Head Lighthouse
Description: At the eastern end of the US mainland, not far from the small town of Lubec, you'll find the red and white striped West Quoddie Head Lighthouse. It was built in 1858 and is 49ft high. The light that shines 24 hours a day can be seen up to 18 nautical miles away. The site is open to the public and can be visited daily. If you want to visit the small museum in the former keeper's house, you should come between Memorial Day and mid-October.
For the GPS: 973 S Lubec Rd, Lubec, ME 04652
Our rating: The Quoddie Head Light offers a very pretty photo motif because of its red and white stripes, therefore it attracts a lot of people, although it is very remote. Whether the tower is worth the long drive, everyone must decide for themselves. We liked it quite a lot to take a look at the pretty lighthouse.
Fort Point Lighthouse
Description: Fort Point Lighthouse was built in 1857 and stands on the coast at the small town of Stockton Springs. The tower is 26ft high. Next to it there is a bell tower and the lighthouse keeper's house with a barn. The Lighthouse is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
For the GPS: 180 Lighthouse Rd, Stockton Springs, ME 04981
Our rating: We like lighthouses and when we are on the coast we always try to look at them. We liked this one because it forms a nice complex together with the adjacent buildings. We also looked at this lighthouse only from the outside.
Rockland Harbor Lighthouse
Description: The historic Rockland Harbor Lighthouse stands, as its name suggests, in the harbor of the city of Rockland. You can reach the lighthouse via a pier, almost a mile long, made of huge granite stones. Built in 1902, the lighthouse can be visited daily as long as weather permits and you can reach it. In 1981, Rockland Harbor Lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
For the GPS: 44.104031, -69.077487, Rockland, ME 04841
Our rating: We visited the lighthouse in October 2008. Even though we only looked at the lighthouse from the outside, the walk across the granite pier was quite an experience. For nice photos of the lighthouse you probably need a boat here, because on the small island around the building you are just too close.
Pemaquid Lighthouse
Description: The Pemaquit Lighthouse stands near the village of Bristol and is one of the oldest lighthouses in Maine. The nearly 39ft high tower was built together with the facility in 1826. Over the years, however, it has been altered and added to many times. Since 1985, the Pemaquit Lighthouse has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The lighthouse can be visited daily from May to the end of October from 9 am to 5 pm.
For the GPS: 3115 Bristol Rd, New Harbor, ME 04558
Our Rating: The Pemaquid Lighthouse is by far my favorite lighthouse. It is very picturesquely located on a rugged huge granite cliff that was polished by wind and weather. Unfortunately, when we visited in October 2013, the weather was so bad that it was not possible to see the lighthouse from the cliffs. So we will come again when we are back in Maine.
Portland Head Lighthouse
Description: Portland Head Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in Maine. It was completed in 1790 and stands on the coast off Portland. The tower and the buildings around it have been changed and renovated several times over the years. Today the tower is 75ft high and stands on a granite cliff, picturesquely above the ocean. In 1973, the site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the attached former guardhouse there is a museum which can be visited daily from April to December between 10 am and 4 pm.
For the GPS: 12 Captain Strout Cir, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
Our rating: During our visit in October 2008, we rather looked at the lighthouse from a distance, because we simply liked it much better from a distance. The ocean was also a bit rougher that day, so there were great photo opportunities with the turbulent sea in the foreground. We liked it here very much and can recommend a stop.
Two Lights State Park
Description: The Two Lights SP is located east of Portland near Cape Elisabeth. It gets its name from the two lighthouses built in 1828. One of the lighthouses is still active today, the other one is privately owned and is no longer operated as a lighthouse. You can visit the SP daily from 9am to 4pm. The entrance fee is $7/person.
For the GPS: 7 Tower Dr, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
Our rating: Since we didn't really have much time during our visit in October 2008, we didn't visit the state park, but only took a short look from outside at the Cape Elisabeth Lighthouse (that's the still active one). Since we basically just wanted a photo of the towers, that was enough for us for now. Who has longer time, will certainly find interesting things to explore here.
