Top 5 Lighthouses in MidCoast Maine

So Many Lighthouses, So Little Time

With 65 lighthouses up and down its 3,400-mile coast, Maine has the most oceanfront lighthouses in America. It would take many weeks to see them all, but you could explore over 24 of them in Maine’s MidCoast alone.

Maine’s MidCoast lighthouses are fascinating places to explore in the daytime and to see at night. Many are open to the public and several have adjacent museums. Some can be enjoyed by lighthouse tours on the water or in the comfort of your car.

So, what are the Top 5 Lighthouses in the MidCoast? There are many wonderful lighthouses to visit, but if you have limited time, these 5 are the most easily reached by car.

 

Pemaquid Point Lighthouse

Bristol (pictured above)

This still-operating lighthouse is owned by the US Coast Guard and is located about 67 miles northeast of Portland in the quiet town of Bristol. The lighthouse dates back to 1827 and was commissioned by John Quincy Adams. The Fisherman’s Museum is in the original keeper’s house and an art gallery, a learning center and picnic areas are also located on the grounds. Depending on availability, there is a possibility of renting the upstairs apartment in the keeper’s houses for the ultimate lighthouse stay. A small entry fee to the park includes access to the lighthouse tower.

 

Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse

Rockland Harbor

Few places are as dramatic to visit as this landmark lighthouse at the end of a 7/8 mile long breakwater. On any good weather day, the walk to the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse will likely include sights of shorebirds, harbor seals, and the busy marine activity of Rockland. You can visit the beautifully restored keeper’s house and also climb to the top of the lighthouse lantern for a dazzling view.

Tips for Walking Out to Sea

The Breakwater and Lighthouse are open sunrise to sunset and all tours are weather permitting. There are no restroom facilities at the lighthouse, however, you’ll find restrooms next to the parking lot. Use caution when walking the breakwater, wear comfortable shoes (avoid flipflops and high heels), and dress warmly; wind sin the open harbor can lower temperatures quickly. To climb the tower, young visitors must be taller than 42 inches.

 

Fort Point Lighthouse

Stockton Springs

This historic lighthouse station dates to 1836 and includes the 1857 keeper’s house and the 1890’s fog bell tower, barn, oil house and garage. The pyramidal bell tower is one the few remaining in New England and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Of special interest is the lighthouse’s 1857 Fresnel lens that is still in use. There is free parking near the lighthouse and Fort Pownall. The lighthouse is not open to the public, but the grounds are accessible from 9:00 am to sunset in season.

 

Owls Head Lighthouse

Owl’s Head

Tour this picturesque light station perched on a steep rise 80 feet above Penobscot Bay. From this vantage point, you can view panoramic views of Penoschot Bay, nearby islands, as well as glimpses of Maine’s renowned windjammer fleet. Built nearly 200 years ago, the station has a colorful history. Among the many stories is when a schooner when aground below the light in 1857 and a couple was pulled from the frozen spray. They were revived at the station and lived to marry.

The Owls Head keeper’s house, which is still in use by the Coast Guard, is also the interpretive center for the American Lighthouse Foundation. There are restroom facilities at the adjacent parking lot in Owls Head Light State Park.

 

Marshall Point Lighthouse

Port Clyde

Visitors may recognize this light station from the movie “Forest Gump.” Tom Hanks ran out on the wooden runway to the tower and back during his long cross-country trek. The historic lighthouse station, located in the quiet fishing port of Port Clyde, was built in 1832. This distinctive black-and-white lighthouse is a favorite of photographers and artists. After touring the lighthouse, hike over to the quaint fishing village of Port Clyde. While there, you can feast on lobster and seafood or take a cruise with Monhegan Boat Line to see local wildlife, including puffins, minke whales and harbor seals.