Experience The Rugged Beauty Of Maine Lighthouses

Maine is a beautiful state with a rugged coastline. The waters around this coastline can be difficult to maneuver even for the most experienced of seamen. After many tragic accidents occurred in this area, it was recognized that something needed to be done to help mariners through these dangerous waters and dangerous foggy nights. So beginning in 1794, several Maine lighthouses were built to guide mariners.

By the twentieth century, seventy lighthouses had been built and established on the coastline. This is why Maine is now often known as "The Lighthouse State". The only other state which boasts more lighthouses than Maine is Michigan.

No sailor need sail up the coast of Maine without a light fixed in his sight. These lighthouses served as a warning for sea captains to beware. They were placed on rugged cliffs and rocky boulders on the edge of the sea, their bright beacons warning those navigating the ocean that they should beware of impending danger. They also guided skippers through the darkest and stormiest of nights, giving them a fixed point of hope and helping them chart their way to safer courses and more navigable waters.

While the history of Maine lighthouses is fascinating to hear, it is even more enjoyable to be able to visit them and experience their beauty and rich history in person. There are still sixty-five of the original seventy lighthouses still standing.

At one time, each lighthouse had a lighthouse keeper whose responsibility was to take care of the lighthouse and make sure that its light was on each night and functioning well. If the keeper spotted a ship in danger, it was their responsibility to sound the foghorn as a warning. A lighthouse keeper's job was one of the most serious that could mean the matter between life and death. Lighthouses are now mostly all monitored by the U. S. Coast Guard, though a few are no longer functional and have been turned into attractions such as a bed and breakfast.

Though these lighthouses no longer exemplify the life and death significance of the past, there is still much drama and romance to behold in them. If you enjoy lighthouses, Maine is the place for you to visit. Some of the most well known and prominent ones can be seen simply by taking a road trip along Maine's U.S. Rt. 1.

The most photographed lighthouse in Maine is Cape Neddick Light. From this area you can also glimpse Boon Island Light. South of Portland, you can visit Maine's brightest beacon, Cape Elizabeth Light, as well as the oldest, Portland Head Light. There are also several smaller lighthouses located around Portland and the Boothbay Harbor area that are fun to visit. One of the most beautiful lighthouses is Pemaquid Point Light at Damariscotta, and there are two more picturesque lights around Port Clyde. One is Marshall Point Light; the other is known as the Monhegan Island Light and can only be viewed by taking a ferry to the island.

Just below Rockland is Owl's Head Lightstation. This lighthouse has perhaps witnessed more tragic shipwrecks than any other in the area. Several other lighthouses grace this town, and as you keep going and near Acadia National Park, Bass Harbor Light can be seen shining its unique red light through the night. At the tip of Maine near the edge of the Eastern Time Zone is the West Quoddy Head Light. This lighthouse looks like a picture from a painting with its red and white striping design.

There is no better place to experience the beauty and historic quality of lighthouses than Maine. Come to The Lighthouse State and discover the landmarks here that will delight you and capture a place in your memory for years to come.