An exploratory voyage through Maine’s rich lighthouse heritage
Grab your Docksides and join us on an exploratory voyage along Maine’s jaw-dropping coastline, dotted with more than sixty historic lighthouses. Once an essential guiding light for weary sailors navigating Maine’s treacherous waters, each lighthouse now carries its own unique story and offers a fascinating insight into the state’s nautical heritage, as well as boasting some of the most breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean.
From imposing watchtowers perched on the edges of rugged cliffs to postcard-perfect beacons on secluded inlets, it's no surprise that Maine has been crowned the “Lighthouse State”.
So, jump on board as we begin our tour of seven of coastal Maine’s most interesting historical monuments and cherished landmarks.
Egg Rock Lighthouse
Our first stop is an architecturally unique beacon, located on Egg Rock: a tiny island at the entrance of Maine’s dramatic Frenchman Bay. Instead of the quintessential round silhouette with spiral staircase, Egg Rock Lighthouse comprises a 40-foot square tower, projecting through the larger square keeper’s house below. We admire it from the safety of our boat, as it can’t be reached on foot, and despite the relentless rain, we can still make out its unusual squat form and its red warning light flashing at 40-second intervals.
The weather draws our thoughts to the countless storms that have battered the lighthouse since its heyday, originally built in 1875 to help control the increasing seasonal ferry traffic. Maybe next time we might catch the seals often seen basking on the rocky ledges next to the tower: another reason why this lighthouse is a popular addition to many a tourist’s checklist.
Owls Head Lighthouse
Driving down the coast, we arrive at Owls Head Light, one of Maine’s smaller, more quaint lighthouses. Fortunately the weather is on our side, and we are able to take in the scenic vista of the surrounding seascapes: although only a short 30-foot tower, Owls Head Lighthouse stands atop a rocky formation that looms down from more than 70 feet above sea level.
As we make our way down the steep set of stairs to the keeper’s house, our thoughts turn to ghosts, shipwrecks and legends: warning ships away from the coast since 1825, Owls Head is steeped in history and has its own tales to tell, one involving a life-saving dog called Spot, who would supposedly pull on the rope attached to the station’s fog bell to warn passing mariners of the impending danger. Apparently, one stormy night, the light keeper’s intelligent four-legged companion saved the lives of those on-board a boat approaching the rocky ledge, and is reportedly buried near his trusty bell.
Marshall Point Lighthouse
Our next point of call is Marshall Point Lighthouse, built in 1832 to guide boats entering and leaving Port Clyde Harbour: a little town that has since become a popular artist’s retreat.
It’s dusk as we arrive, the ocean painted with muted blues beneath the orange glow of the sky. Standing tall amongst the stillness of the setting sun, the round black and white tower oozes New England charm, connected to the keeper’s home via a picturesque white wooden pier, where visitors can now obtain a captivating glimpse into the beacon’s past at the Marshall Point Lighthouse Museum. It’s not hard to see why this lighthouse is a favourite for selfie seekers and photography fanatics, even featuring in the iconic Tom Hanks film Forrest Gump. On such a clear night like tonight, the fog horn is quiet, replacing the station’s original bell in 1969 shortly before the landmark was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse
The next morning, we carry on to Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, sitting atop a rocky promontory that’s been slowly weathered over the years by choppy waters.
Located at the entrance to Muscongus Bay and John’s Bay, we’re able to take in spectacular views of the Maine coastline: the sea is still like a sheet of glass, reminding us of its formidable power as it fiercely reflects the sun’s piercing rays. We stop for a moment to take in the history this beacon holds, commissioned in 1827 by President John Quincy Adams before becoming the first ever lighthouse to appear on American currency in 2003, when it was selected as the image for the official Maine quarter. Unlike Marshall Point, Pemaquid Point Lighthouse’s original Fresnel lens is still in use today, making it a genuine artifact of Maine’s rich maritime heritage.
Doubling Point Light
Unlike any of our previous destinations, our next stop, Doubling Point Light, sits upon one of Maine’s rivers: the Kennebec River on Arrowsic Island. Although usually accessed via a picture-perfect footbridge, we arrive just after public visiting times. But what a treat it is to take in its octagonal wooden structure, clad with quintessential white wood shingles, against one of Maine’s unrivalled sunsets. Breathing in the stillness, only interrupted by the waves and a few distant seagulls, we admire the iron walkway that wraps around the lantern chamber.
And as we glance upriver, we spot the historic city of Bath. Doubling Point Light was in fact one of four lighthouses built during the late 1800s to help guide vessels here: a major shipbuilding port and arguably the cornerstone of Maine’s boatbuilding legacy. Not only is Doubling Point Lighthouse one of the finest vantage points of Maine’s astounding natural beauty, but it’s an enchanting souvenir of Maine’s time-honoured maritime trade too.
Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse
Travelling down the coast in the direction of Maine’s iconic Portland Harbor, we’re eventually greeted with a splendid view of Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse: one of the most photogenic cast iron lighthouses in New England, and still to this day an active navigation aid owned by the US Coast Guard.
Although we are fortunately blessed with still waters and calm winds today, this particular spot has a reputation for being particularly treacherous, where even the most experienced of captains have fallen victim to the ocean’s unforgiving waves. There’s one notable rescue in particular that stands out amongst the beacon’s colourful heritage, protected and conserved by the American Lighthouse Foundation. Following one stormy night in 1855, Cape Elizabeth’s lighthouse keeper was awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal for clambering over the icy rocks himself and bravely dragging two struggling sailors to safety.
Nubble Lighthouse
Our tour of Maine’s lighthouses comes to an adventurous close at Nubble Lighthouse, perched majestically on Cape Neddick: a rocky outcrop or “nubble” in York.
Although the weather is against us, unleashing unwelcome downpours every time we attempt to make our way from the car across the slippery rocks, the reward is worth it: a pastel-toned rainbow and a radiant sunset provide a technicolour backdrop for one of Maine’s most treasured monuments. From the white-washed Victorian keeper’s house with trim red roof to its white picket fence and quintessential cast iron railing, it’s not hard to see why “Nubble Light”, as the locals call it, is one of the most frequently photographed of all Maine’s life-saving beacons.
As we look out across the horizon, we think back to the tragic shipwrecks that led to the lighthouse’s construction in 1879, the most famous of all being Isodore in 1842. Against the multicoloured sky, Nubble Light stands tall as a proud guardian of Maine’s remarkable lighthouse heritage, both past and present.
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