A Visit to the Lighthouse State

Did you know the State of Maine has more coastal lighthouses than anywhere else in the United States? By 1900 a mariner could sail along the coast and always have a lighthouse in sight. Today there are 65 lighthouses still standing and they provide a wonderful excuse to hop in the car and investigate the craggy coast of Maine.

Many Maine hotels and resorts offer a variety of Maine vacation packages. One even has a lighthouse you can stay in! So hit the road and experience the best of Maine this summer.

A great place to begin your trip is with a stop at the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland. The museum has the largest collection of lighthouse artifacts and mementoes. In addition, the museum provides heartwarming stories of the keepers and families of Maine Lighthouses.

Once you have a feel for life in a lighthouse, head out and explore some of the 28 lighthouses of the Mid Coast Maine region. Located in Rockland, the Rockland Breakwater Light stands on the South end of the breakwater beyond Owls Head. Between 1881 and 1899, a granite breakwater, almost a mile long, was built to help protect Rockland harbor. As the work progressed, a small moveable beacon was moved farther out each time the breakwater was extended. The light was relocated four times between 1888 and 1895, and, finally, in 1902, a permanent lighthouse was built at the breakwater's end.

From there you can visit Owl’s Head near Rockland Harbor; Tenants Harbor light, now owned by Jamie Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth’s son; Marshall Point Light Station, built in 1832; and Pemaquid Point Light built in 1827 with the original Fresnel lens still in operation.

Enjoy an authentic Maine experience with your very own lighthouse tour!