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With over 65 historical lighthouses over 5,000 miles of Maine’s coast, Maine is commonly known as the Lighthouse State. The beautiful lighthouses have been a beacon of light to guide sailors and fishermen safely to the harbor along the Maine coastline.
Today, the lighthouses play a crucial role in Maine’s history and are a popular tourist attraction. And though some lighthouses aren’t accessible on land, boats allow visitors to navigate the attraction and get some of the best photographs.
In addition, some of these lighthouses have museums on their ocean waterfront that provide insights into the history of lighthouse keeping. Other lighthouses have been converted into quaint inns or are part of the state park grounds. Here are some of the best lighthouses in Maine.
We were in Portland Maine
My were there to visit (bear with me here) my husband’s dad’s cousin. Cousin Hazel is now 87 and had been asking for almost 15 years for us to visit in the annual holiday card. We finally got our fannies out there and while visiting, hunted lighthouses, check out a few local restaurants, sampled lobster rolls, and dug into tall ship history.
While we will be sharing more about all of that with you, today it is all about Maine lighthouses!
My personal favorite was probably Bug Light. It’s diminutive size makes it adorable! It also has a great little park, a gorgeous view, informational historic signs to read, and also is near the Liberty Ship Memorial. It is perfect day trip for packing that picnic, digging into history, and amazing views.
Now, on to what we think is the best list of lighthouses to see in Maine – I have them alphabetically listed, not in the order we loved them or the ease of access to them.
BASS HARBOR HEAD LIGHTHOUSE
If you’re looking for a quintessential Maine experience, look no further than Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. This iconic structure stands on a cliff top overlooking the sea, providing a stunning backdrop for any Acadia National Park adventure.
The lighthouse marks the entrance to Bass Harbor on the southwestern corner of Mount Desert Island. It was built in 1858 on a stone foundation and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. The lighthouse stands 56 feet (17.07 meters) above sea level and is made of stone, with a bell and light that are still operational today.
While the property is not available to the public, visitors can get close to the bell and the light via the concrete path. The lighthouse is also accessible by car or the park’s free Island Explorer shuttle, which drops off passengers about half a mile away. You can also tour the tower after organizing with the Tremont Historical Society. The lighthouse is worth a visit when you’re in Maine!
Places To Stay Nearby
BURNT ISLAND LIGHT
Nestled at the western entrance of Boothbay Harbor, Burnt Island Light is one of the oldest lighthouses in Maine. The 35-foot lighthouse is one of two towers constructed in 1872. Today, the lighthouse is still a working beacon and is especially popular with local lobster boats. Visitors to Burnt Island Light can enjoy guided lighthouse tours, especially during summer.
In addition, there are 2 miles (3.22 kilometers) of walking trails and access to two beaches. For those who want to stay for the night, you can rent out the lightkeeper’s apartments for a truly unique Maine experience.
Places To Stay Nearby
CAPE NEDDICK LIGHTHOUSE
We can’t have a list of the best lighthouses in Maine without this gem. One of the most photogenic lighthouses in Maine is the Cape Neddick Lighthouse, also known as the Nubble Lighthouse. The 41-foot tall tower was built in 1879 and is located on a small islet called Nubble Island, just a few hundred feet off the shore of York.
The island is also home to a picturesque Victorian lighthouse keeper home, which resembles a gingerbread house. It is the most photographed lighthouse in Maine.
Although there is no public access to the lighthouse, you can view it from afar by taking a scenic cruise with Finestkind or driving over to Sohier Park. The Nubble Light is one of Maine’s most iconic sights and is worth adding to your itinerary!
Places To Stay Nearby
GOAT ISLAND LIGHT
Kennebunkport’s Goat Island Light marks the entrance to Cape Porpoise Harbor. The harbor was established in 1833, and the light station is one of the last automated ones. What makes this spot so unique is not only its quaint charm with a few shops, an eatery, guesthouses, and a lot of Maine charm but also its spectacular views.
The coastline of Maine offers some breathtaking photo opportunities, and the 25-foot lighthouse is visible from boats guided by resident keepers. This light station has even been helpful to agents protecting George H.W. Bush as a spot to monitor activity near his Walker’s Point compound. Thus, if you are ever in Kennebunkport, watch Goat Island Light!
Places To Stay Nearby
GRINDLE POINT LIGHTHOUSE
Grindle Point Lighthouse is a 39 feet (11.89 meters) lighthouse found in Gilkey Harbor on the western side of Islesboro Island. The lighthouse is an active US Coast Guard aid to navigation with a characteristic green flash every four seconds.
The 1874 lighthouse provides an avenue for visitors to climb to the top of the light, especially during the summer. Visitors can catch the best views of the lighthouse from the water. Distant views are also available at Lincolnville Beach.
Places to Stay Nearby
MARSHALL POINT LIGHTHOUSE
Marshal Point Lighthouse is found on a rocky ledge at the tip of St. George Peninsula in Port Clyde harbor. The lighthouse features a keeper’s room set aside as a museum filled with memorabilia and documents highlighting the history of the lighthouse and the Peninsula.
The lighthouse has a quarter-mile of shoreline and is still active at the entrance to the St. George River. The 30-foot lighthouse was constructed in 1857 from granite and brick and was automated the following year (1971).
Located ten miles southwest of Port Clyde off the coast of Maine is Monhegan Island Light. The lighthouse is perched high at the top of the 140-foot hill known as Lighthouse Hill, the highest point on Monhegan Island.
The 30-foot granite block circular tower was built in 1824 and is registered on the National Register of Historic Places. The lighthouse houses the Monhegan Museum, and it is still active.
Places To Stay Nearby
OWLS HEAD LIGHTHOUSE
Owls Head Lighthouse sits on top of an 80-foot bluff overlooking Penobscot Bay near Rockland Harbor.
The lighthouse is not only a lovely sight to see, but it has an intriguing story to it too. According to reports, at least two ghosts reside in the lighthouse, making it one of the most haunted lighthouses in Maine.
Visitors can view Owls head light from afar or near the parking lot. You can also check out Maine’s windjammer fleet while at the property. The 30 feet (9.14 meters) round brick tower is open for visits.
Places To Stay Nearby
PEMAQUID POINT LIGHTHOUSE
Located in Bristol, Maine, Pemaquid Point Lighthouse is one of the most iconic lighthouses in the state. The lighthouse was built in 1827 under the orders of John Quincy Adams. It is still active today.
The lighthouse features the Fishermen’s Museum, which gives a background on the lighthouse’s history and the neighboring area. Visitors to the lighthouse enjoy the following:
● Lodging options on the second floor of the apartment,
● A visit to the art gallery,
● A keeper’s house
● Educational learning center.
The 38-foot white field stone conical lighthouse was automated in 1934 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Places to Stay Nearby
PORTLAND BREAKWATER LIGHT
Portland Breakwater Light is located at the entrance to the main shipping channel leading into Portland Harbor in the Gulf of Maine. Also called Bug Light, Portland Breakwater Light has a 250 mm optic that exhibits a white flash every four seconds, welcoming guests to South Portland.
The lighthouse was reactivated in 2002 after being decommissioned in 1943, and it appears as a private navigation aid in the US coast guard light. The 26-foot cast iron lighthouse was built in 1875 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
The walkway on the Greenbelt’s eastern terminus is Bug Light Park. The 8.78-acre park was a site for building the Liberty ships for the New England Shipbuilding Corp. and the South Portland Shipbuilding Corp.
Today, Bug Light Park is a popular destination for picnicking, boating, kite flying, and fishing.
The lighthouse was built in 1875 with cast iron plates, and it’s dubbed Bug Light because of its small size.
Places To Stay Nearby
PORTLAND HEAD LIGHT
Along the shores of Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, Portland Head Light is located at the entrance to Cosco Bay. Built in 1791, it is the oldest lighthouse in Maine and one of the most picturesque and frequently photographed in the US.
The 80-foot brick conical lighthouse was commissioned by President George Washington and became automated in 1989. The lighthouse is closed to the public, but the ground is open. Some activities guests enjoy include visiting the beach, hiking near the tower, having a picnic, and catching amazing ocean views.
The Portland Head Lighthouse keeper’s former home is today an award-winning museum with numerous fascinating displays.
Places To Stay Nearby
RAM ISLAND LIGHT
Boothbay Harbor is a beautiful coastal town in Maine, and it’s home to the Ram Island Lighthouse. The tower, built in 1883 and switched to automation in 1965, is a famous historical landmark.
The place got its name because it was used as a quarantine station for rams to control sheep breeding. On the eastern edge of the Damariscotta River, the lighthouse stands 35 feet (10.67 meters) tall. An iron fence surrounds the lantern house, a walkway surrounds it, and a ventilator sits on top.
There is also a modern lamp inside the lantern house, which has a granite footing, brick core, and cast iron lantern. Today, the Coast Guard is the legal owner of the light source, but a trust is responsible for its upkeep.
The Ram Island Lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 under the original name of Ram Island Light. From Ocean Point in Booth Bay, sightseers may get a good look at the lighthouse. The Ram Island Lighthouse is an iconic yachting and beautiful sightseeing tourism destination in Maine and is worth a visit.
Places To Stay Nearby
SEGUIN LIGHT
Sequin Light is a historic lighthouse found on Sequin Island at the mouth of Maine’s Kennebec River, south of Georgetown Island. Commissioned by President George Washington in 1795, it is the second–oldest and one of the tallest lighthouses in Maine.
Seguin Light is revered for its 9 feet (2.74 meters) tall, first-order Fresnel lens with the ability to illuminate over 20 nautical miles away. The original lighthouse was put up in 1795 using wood, but the current cylindrical structure was constructed using granite stone in 1857.
The lighthouse can be viewed using binoculars at Popham Beach, but for a more thrilling experience, you can get close to the lighthouse using private ferries and boats. In addition, there are also opportunities for hiking and relaxing on the beach on the 64-acre island.
The 52-foot tower is one of the highest lighthouses in the state and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. Tours of the lighthouse are usually provided in warm weather.
Places To Stay Nearby
SPRING POINT LEDGE LIGHTHOUSE
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse is the only Caisson-style lighthouse in the US that you can visit on foot. The lighthouse is located in South Portland and has a distinctive shape; people say it resembles a giant spark plug as it sits at the end of a 950-foot breakwater.
The breakwater was built in 1951, connecting the lighthouse to the mainland. The popular tourist destination stands next to Old Fort Preble and has a fog bell and a lantern with a fifth-order Fresnel lens.
The 54 feet (16.46 meters) tall lighthouse houses a museum in the former assistant keeper’s bedroom. The lighthouse was added to the National Historic Register in 1988.
Places To Stay Nearby
WEST QUODDY HEAD LIGHTHOUSE
As one of Maine’s most iconic symbols, West Quoddy is painted red and white. It was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson in 1808 and modified in 1858 with the current circular, 49-foot-high brick tower. It is located in Lubec Town.
The lighthouse features a museum and a visitor’s center on the first floor of the keeper’s house, where visitors can relax and learn more about the history of the legendary lighthouse. For a more outdoorsy experience, guided tours of the tower are available during the summer.
Places To Stay Nearby
TO SUM IT UP
So, there you have it, the 15 best Maine lighthouses. Be sure to add them to your list of must-see attractions the next time you’re in the state. From picturesque views to their rich history, these lighthouses have it all.
And who knows, you might even see a ghost or two at Owl’s lighthouse! Whatever your interest, Maine’s lighthouses are sure to please. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your trip today.
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