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.

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Rockland Maine Was Once A Major Shipbuilding Port

Rockland Maine is a small town of 7,600 residents on the coast of Maine. Rockland is a popular tourist destination and a service port for the Maine State Ferry Service that provides service to the islands of North Haven, Matinicus and Vinalhaven. This waterfront community offers a great place to enjoy the cool summer temperatures of coastal Maine.

Rockland was founded in 1854 and quickly became a popular shipbuilding village. In fact, the fastest vessel at the time was a schooner by the name of Red Jacket. Red Jacket was built at Rockland and sailed from here to Liverpool England and on to Australia and back, a rare accomplishment at the time.

Lime quarrying and processing was also a big source of income for residents of the city at the time. The lime exporting eventually exceeded the shipping business in total annual commerce. During this period, Rockland saw the construction of three more shipyards and several other industries. Over the next century, the importance of shipbuilding would continue in this small waterfront community.

In modern times, Rockland has a tourist-based economy. The area offers the setting of a rustic fishing village with restored downtown areas that consists of numerous shops and restaurants. There are also several historic inns and a local radio station.

Among the popular tourist attractions in Rockland Maine is the Farnsworth Art museum. Farnsworth houses some of the finest examples of 18th to 20th century American folk art. There are many original works by such artists as Gilbert Stuart, Eastman Johnson, and Maurice Pendergast. The museum also focuses on Maine's contribution to American art.

Besides the Farnsworth art museum there are also several other local attractions. The Lincoln Street Center for the Arts is an educational facility that provides instruction in the fine arts. The Strand Theater also contributes to the culture of Rockland Maine.

Rockland Breakwater Light is a small lighthouse off the coast at the end of a mile long breakwater. The light provides tours on the weekends during the summer. This light was built in 1902 and although it is only 25 feet tall, it has been used for over 100 years to guide boats into the harbor.

Rockland has several festivals throughout the year including the North Atlantic Blues Festival and the Maine Lobster Festival. The Maine Lobster Festival is held the first week of August and includes a parade and other festivities. One of the popular events is the Lobster crate race. There is plenty of lobster served; in fact, in 2008 there were over 20,000 pounds of lobster devoured during the festivities.

During the gilded age of the 1880's to the early 1900's Rockland Maine was a major attraction to vacationers coming from the New York area. There were many hotels developed in the area that provided the wealthy with travel destinations that were equal to any of the other fine travel destinations of the time including Newport.

The area changed as a result of the invention of the car and the effect of the great depression of the 1930's. Although numerous attempts were made to revitalize the area over the years it never matched the elegance of the gilded age. Today, Rockland has in fact been reincarnated as a hip, artistic midcoast mecca. Artist Eric Hopkins, who attended Rockland High School in the 1960s and moved back to the area in 1981, says the city has come a long way. He recalls Rockland’s smelly fish processing days, its employment problems, and a more utilitarian Main Street filled with hardware and grocery stores. “It was a real working town,” says Hopkins, who opened his own art gallery in Rockland in 2006. “Who would have thought twenty years ago, we’d have sushi and espresso bars here along side high-end art galleries.” Modern day Rockland Maine offers the same great waterfront destination that it offered over 100 years ago. It is a fitting symbol for this seaside city that has, through an unlikely journey, come to epitomize the marriage of food, art and Maine small town hospitality.

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Our Famous Maine Beaches

Maine beaches are famous world wide. If you are looking for a vacation then this is the place to go. Maine has a lot to offer everyday travelers and you may find more than you bargained for. No matter your reasons for taking the journey you are sure to be happy you did. As if the Maine lobsters weren't enough to entice you to take a little trip north, the pristine beauty of Maine's coastal beaches calls enticingly to anyone who loves the sea. While Maine is well known for its scenic views of lighthouses and coastline, most don't really think of the state in terms of its beaches. Yet the beaches in Maine are some of the most beautiful along the Eastern Atlantic coast.

Maine beaches typically offer miles of pebbles and sand and water as far as the eyes can see. Some of the beaches also boast of having some of the coldest water anywhere due to the northern shoreline along which they are located. Some waters reach as low as 55 degrees even during the summer months.

Many of Maine's beaches offer scenic vistas and rocky coastline for travelers to take in. You are sure to fall in love with the breathtaking beauty of Maine's coastline. It is also filled with history. Some of the lighthouses date back hundreds of years and you may even be able to take a tour.

Most of Maine's larger beaches have lifeguards on duty during the summer season and some even offer bathrooms. You should do some research as some beaches require you to have tags that you can get at another location such as the local town hall.

If swimming or lying on the beach is not on your agenda then Maine also offers other activities sure to peek your interest. These include fishing and sailing. Of course you can always explore the islands or visit the lighthouses in the area. Maine offers some of the best fishing you will ever encounter and renting a boat is rarely a problem.

Maine also has beaches in their state parks where you can spend days at a time. They have picnic areas and facilities to enhance your beach experience. Some areas of beach are even sheltered from the wind and filled with natural sand dunes.

Old Orchard Beach has seven miles of glorious sand and they have several extras as well. These extras include amusement parks, food, and games. They also have ample parking so you are sure to find a spot. This is a must see if you are in the area.

With all there is to see in Maine it only makes sense to go at least once and see it for yourself. Several Maine beaches tend to be very peaceful and calming. This is an ideal vacation area for numerous reasons. No matter your initial reason for visiting Maine be sure and check out the beaches in what ever area you happen to be in.

Book your vacation today and explore all the wonders of Maine beaches. This is a place you will want to come back to year after year and explore every beach you find.

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