Best Maine Lighthouses

Few Maine structures are as iconic as the stoic lighthouse. They serve as portals to the past (George Washington commissioned some of them) but continue to light the way for modern seafarers. Many of Maine’s 65 lights are open to the public at certain times of the year – you can even stay overnight in a few of them.

Electric (or even solar-powered) lamps that can be seen miles away have replaced the whale oil glow of a bygone era. The lonely job of a lightkeeper is romantic history. But the lights remain, solemnly welcoming visitors to the rocky coast they have guarded for centuries. Visit one, visit them all (though only intrepid few will manage to reach the farthest island outposts). Here are a few to know.

Map Of Maine Lighthouses

The map below shows the locations of every lighthouse mentioned in this post:

1. Nubble Light

Nubble Light is a longstanding island sentinel off Cape Neddick. Built in 1879, the light has warned many sailors who follow the rocky coast at York River’s entrance. A cable car connected the station to the mainland during its inhabited years. You can still see the remnants of the wires that sent supplies to the keeper on the treeless station. Nubble is awe-inspiring from the water, but you can drive to Sohier Park to gaze out to the Victorian-style keepers’ house without taking a boat (or a chilly swim). Soon after the island received electric power in 1938, the lightkeeper vacated. Now the city of York maintains its red flashing beacon, which is visible for 13 miles. Brave the cold in December to snap a beautiful photo of the station decked out in lights (appropriately enough) for the holidays.

2. Portland Head Light

Portland Head Light is the oldest light in Maine. Probably the most well-known and photographed landmark on the Maine coast, the light was commissioned by George Washington in 1791. It still actively guides sailors today. The first keeper of the white stone and brick tower was a Revolutionary war veteran who initially handled the challenging conditions for no pay but still kept the lamps burning with whale oil. The outpost received electricity in 1929 but went dark for 3 years during World War II – and again in 1977 due to one of the harsh storms that regularly battered the outcropping.

Easily accessible at the edge of Fort Williams Park in Portland, the beautiful light welcomes visitors to the edge of the sea year-round. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, a Portland native, immortalized this historic location in his poem The Lighthouse. Though the light itself is only open to the public on Open Lighthouse Day in September, the old living quarters feature a fascinating museum and gift shop. To complete your iconic coastal experience, order a lobster roll from the highly acclaimed Bite into Maine food truck parked on the grounds during the summer months. Lobster at a lighthouse on the Maine coast? Check it all off your bucket list with this bucolic southern Maine stop.

3. Bass Harbor Lighthouse

Attractive and welcoming Bass Harbor Lighthouse was erected in 1858. Over 100,000 visitors annually walk the grounds outside the working light that watches over the entrance to Blue Hill Bay. Parking fills up quickly on inviting summer days.

The cliffside station itself is on the register of historic places. It was one of the most pleasant keepers’ homes when it was inhabited since it is accessible without a boat. But it might be worth taking a boat to explore the many alluring sandbars and inlets that surround Mount Desert Island to get a good photo. Otherwise, you’ll have to scramble down the jagged cliff overlooking Great Gott Island to capture a picture. The light stands sentinel at the edge of Acadia National Park, whose granite mountains and rugged coastline have drawn thousands of adventurous visitors for several centuries.

4. Marshall Point Light

Marshall Point Light is an unassuming 24-foot structure on the southern end of Port Clyde. Nevertheless, it may be the most viewed of all. The light tower is the eastern point of the cross country run in the movie Forrest Gump. Originally constructed in 1832, the light and connecting boardwalk have both been rebuilt and renovated in the years since. St. George and the surrounding harbors were bustling ports in the 1800s. The light guided merchants to granite quarries, lumber and shipyards, and fish canneries during Maine’s industrial era.

You can tour the lighthouse grounds and old keepers’ quarters, though the second floor is now a private apartment. Hop on a cruise with the Monhegan Island boat line to see the coast from the bay. Perhaps you’ll also catch a glimpse of a minke whale, puffin, or some seals to round out a classic Maine trip.

5. Owls Head Light

If your visit to a lighthouse isn’t complete unless you can go up into the tower itself, then visit Owls Head Light. The picturesque structure shines from 100 feet above the sea, atop a hill overlooking the entrance to Rockland Harbor. You’ll find a breathtaking view from the hill, and not just because of the many stairs to get there. The area blossomed with a thriving lime trade around the birth of the United States. But treacherous rocks destroyed many merchant ships (and lives), necessitating the beacon built in 1825.

Many ghost stories are connected to the light, hinting at their lingering endurance. Countless proven heroic acts also surround the lives of the keepers (and some of their dogs). In 1929, a seasoned Maine pilot, Captain William Wincapaw, wanted to show his appreciation for the families who maintained the lonely outposts that often guided his missions. He began the Flying Santa tradition, delivering Christmas gifts to outlying lighthouses. If you visit Owls Head on the right day in December, you may catch a glimpse of a jolly visitor flying low – not in a sleigh, but a small plane with wings dipped in salute to the hard-working men and women who always kept the light burning.

6. Pemaquid Point Light

Pemaquid Point Light is an accessible working light ensconced in relief on the Maine quarter. Veins of rock curl down from the point to create the photo-worthy frame carved by glaciers. Commissioned by John Quincy Adams, the original stone light tower was built in 1827. It protected sailors arriving at the community established in 1631 by immigrants from Bristol, England. It was rebuilt completely in 1835 with double walls to withstand the harsh elements.

Picnic on the lovely grounds – or join the lucky few who plan a scenic wedding at the landmark. Spend some time browsing the Fishermen’s Museum and art gallery featuring local talent. These now fill the keepers’ house. If you want an immersive experience, rent the top floor of the house for a weeklong stay wrapped in the smell of salt air and the sound of breakers on the rocks below.

7. Sequin Island Light

Sequin Island, across from the beckoning white sands of Popham Beach, is a 64-mile island 2 ½ miles off the coast of Bath. Sequin Island Light’s imposing stature guards the bay. Commissioned by George Washington in 1795, a few years after Portland Head, the station is the second oldest in Maine.

From the top of the treeless hill, the lighthouse commands the highest elevation in the state. With the only 1st generation Fresnel lens above Virginia, the tower’s strong beam can be seen over 20 nautical miles away. It is one of the foggiest locations in Maine, but a lucky visitor can see Monhegan Island or possibly Mount Washington on a clear day. Seasonal volunteer keepers offer guided tours to those willing to journey across the bay and up the steep incline. A 1,000-foot tramway was installed in 1895 to carry supplies up to the lighthouse.

Visitors themselves travel around the island on foot. The island offers lovely hiking, camping, and even the option to stay overnight in guest quarters.

8. West Quoddy Light

Some claim that all fog is manufactured in the Bay of Fundy. On the Maine side, West Quoddy Light in Lubec went through 4 types of fog horns to find an effective warning signal. This fog-defying beacon, ordered by Thomas Jefferson in 1808, stands on the easternmost point in the United States.

Campobello Island and Grand Manan of Canada rise on other sides of the inlet. The iconic red and white striping reflects the Canadian trend to paint lighthouses so that they stand out against the snow. While Lubec was occupied by the British during The War of 1812, the native keeper remained at his post. Unpredictable tidal waters require expert navigation from all nationalities, no matter the year. First lit with whale oil, then lard, then kerosene, the 3rd order Fresnel lens received electricity in 1932.

You can browse the well-curated art and museum area in the old keepers’ quarters. Then wander lovely shoreside paths that overlook the sparkling blue edge of the nation. It’s worth the trip.

9. Burnt Coat Harbor Light

You could describe Burnt Coat Harbor Light on Swans Island as an adorable lighthouse. It is. Quaint, white, and primly square, its classic lines contrast with the wildness of rugged granite Hockamock Head where it overlooks one of the best harbors in the state.

A six-mile ferry ride from popular Mount Desert Island, Swans Island welcomes visitors to rest in winsome Burnt Coat Harbor. Climb to the top of this working beacon for spectacular views of evergreen islands and the sparkling blue bay. Wander the surrounding 2 miles of paths with picturesque views at every knoll. The entire island is a delight to explore, from the fishermen’s museum, to never-crowded sandy beaches, to picnic spots surrounded by beach roses at the ocean’s edge.

For the fullest experience, rent the apartment on the top floor of the keepers’ house. Wake to matchless natural views, smell the salty air, and listen to the boats ply the harbor waters as they have for centuries. You won’t miss technology (though you will appreciate not having to wake in the middle of the night to trim the lamps!)

10. Cape Elizabeth Light

Cape Elizabeth Light is also known as Two Lights Light, aptly named for the twin beacons. Together the lights have provided vital warnings for boats navigating the dangerous coast of southern Maine. Tandem lights differentiated the spot from Portland Head Light to the north and Wood Island Light to the south. Nearly 100 ships have sunk along this treacherous strip since the 1780s. The lights are stern reminders of the rocks below.

Harsh elements have battered the structures since their initial construction in 1828. They were replaced by 65 foot cast iron towers in 1874. The western tower was decommissioned in 1924 rather than be retrofitted with electricity, but the white light of the eastern tower can be seen faithfully flashing over 27 miles away. Two Lights State Park borders the privately-owned buildings. Many daring rescues are recorded on the brave keepers at this station.

You can view a full-scale replica of the double lighthouses and learn more of their fascinating history at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath.

11. Matinicus Rock Light

No list of Maine lighthouses would be complete without mentioning Matinicus Rock Light. It is not the oldest or most picturesque. But the enduring tower on the windswept 32-acre island embodies the resilience of Maine lighthouses and their keepers. It is lonely, prone to violent storms that can rearrange its huge boulders, and lifesaving to many sailors. No trees and hardly any grass can live on the stone outcropping that stands 18 miles from the mainland. But its vital location off of Rockland led John Quincy Adams to appoint the light built there in 1827.

The rock and its stone light tower are home to many stories of stalwart courage. Abbie Burgess, 16-year-old daughter of the lightkeeper in 1856, kept the lights burning for 4 stormy weeks while her father was stuck on the mainland. She moved their family into the tower itself shortly before a wave washed their home completely off the rock. Abbie eventually married the succeeding keeper’s son. She continued living at various lights along the Maine coast for her entire life.

Many functioning lights are closed to visitors year-round. However, you can plan a visit to mid-coast area lighthouses at the end of June for the midcoast lighthouse challenge. Can you handle climbing seven different sets of tower stairs in one weekend? This is a great chance to find out!

The state also sets aside a day in September as Open Lighthouse Day. Take the unique opportunity to get up close and personal with windows that look far out to sea. Whenever you visit, take some time to browse Maine Maritime Museum in Bath. Their collection of retired Fresnel lenses, memorabilia, and countless stories will fascinate anyone with a respect for the sea. Lighthouses, and those who faithfully served in them, illuminate the past and light the way for the future. Visit one – or many – along the rocky Maine coast to see for yourself.