Nothing stirs the imagination like spotting a beacon of light scanning the horizon along a stormy sea. The low drone of a fog horn echoing across the water warns of danger ahead to seafarers navigating the rocky coastline. As beautiful as they are purposeful, Mid-Coast Maine’s iconic lighthouses have become one of the defining features of the landscape. So, it’s no wonder one of the favorite activities for folks visiting our bed and breakfast in Rockland Maine is to find and photograph lighthouses. Lucky for them, there’s no need to travel far from our location to spot one of these great beacons of hope.
So, what is the lure of the lighthouse? Movies fill our heads with images of dark and stormy nights, ships wrecking along the shore, and heroic rescues. We picture the lonely life of a lighthouse keeper maintaining a watchful eye on a storm-tossed sea. If walls could talk, what stories could they tell us? With a history shrouded in mystery and romance, is it any wonder why visitors are drawn to these historic structures guarding a turbulent sea?
While 68 historic lighthouses reside along the entire length of the rockbound coast of Maine, several are within easy driving distance of Rockland. In fact, you could walk to the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse from the Berry Manor Inn. But if you travel just a little further afield, you can take in some of the most photographed lighthouses in the world.
Maine Lighthouse Museum
Maine Lighthouse Museum
If you want to learn more about the history of Maine’s lighthouses, a stop at the Maine Lighthouse Museum right here in town is a must. With an impressive collection of lighthouse artifacts and the largest collection of Fresnel lenses, the museum offers amazing insight into America’s maritime history.
Lighthouse Boat Tours
Maps of local lighthouses are available for those who choose to tour the region by car. But for those up for a little more adventure, many boat tour operators offer lighthouse cruises. Combining a schooner sail with a lighthouse adventure ranks right up there as one of Maine’s truly unique experiences.
Maine Lighthouse Air Tour
One if by land, two if by sea. But what if you took to the sky to spot lighthouses from above? Well, Penobscot Island Air specializes in lighthouse tours. Imagine boarding a seaplane and soaring over beautiful Penobscot Bay in hunt of lighthouses not visible by land. Not for the faint of heart, of course, but exhilarating none-the-less for lighthouse devotees.
Mid-Coast Maine Lighthouse Challenge
Although the event is postponed for this year, the Mid-Coast Maine Lighthouse Challenge is a lighthouse lover’s dream. Normally scheduled for the last weekend of June, the Challenge offers the opportunity to get up close and personal with 7 lighthouses in and around Rockland. Climb the lighthouse towers. Visit the lighthouse keeper’s house at Owls Head. And, explore Curtis Island and Indian Island Lights via Camden Harbor Cruises.
Rockland Breakwater
Mid-Coast Maine’s Iconic Lighthouses in Rockland, Rockport, Camden and Beyond
- Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse
- Owls Head Lighthouse
- Marshall Point Lighthouse
- Curtis Island Light
- Indian Island Light
- Pemaquid Point Light
- Grindle Point Light
- Fort Point Light
- Dyce Head Light
Be sure to read our blog “A Tour of Mid-Coast Maine’s Area Lighthouses” for more information on their history and what to expect when visiting these local gems.
April 2021