Top Lighthouses of Maine to Visit: Maine is known as “The Lighthouse State,” with more than 60 historic lighthouses scattered along its rugged coastline. These iconic beacons, perched on rocky cliffs or guarding quiet harbors, have guided sailors for centuries and today stand as symbols of maritime heritage, romance, and New England charm. A visit to Maine isn’t complete without experiencing its lighthouses—each one with its own story, architecture, and breathtaking views.
For guests staying at the Center Lovell Inn, exploring Maine’s lighthouses makes for an unforgettable day trip. While our Inn is nestled in the Lakes Region near Kezar Lake and the White Mountains, the coast is just a scenic drive away. From Portland’s bustling harbor to the quiet shores of Pemaquid Point, the lighthouses of Maine are an easy and rewarding addition to your stay.
Contents
Top Lighthouses to Visit in Maine
6 Maine Lighthouses Worth Visiting on a Day Trip from the Center Lovell Inn
Portland Head Light — Cape Elizabeth
- Year Built: 1791 (Maine’s oldest lighthouse)
- Height: 80 feet
- Focal Height: 101 feet (focal height means the height of the light above sea level, which determines how far away the light can be seen at sea)
- Status: Active aid to navigation, automated
- Access: Public (grounds and museum open daily)
- GPS Address: 12 Captain Strout Circle, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
Commissioned by George Washington, Portland Head Light was built on the orders of Henry Dearborn, the nation’s first Secretary of War. The adjacent keeper’s house now operates as a museum, while the surrounding Fort Williams Park provides hiking trails, picnic spots, and panoramic ocean views. Still in service, its beam can be seen up to 24 nautical miles away.
Nubble Light (Cape Neddick Lighthouse) — York
- Year Built: 1879
- Height: 41 feet
- Focal Height: 88 feet
- Status: Active aid to navigation, automated
- Access: Private island (viewed from Sohier Park)
- GPS Address: 3115 Bristol Road, New Harbor, ME 04554
Perhaps Maine’s most photographed lighthouse, Nubble Light sits dramatically on a rocky island just off York’s shore. Although the tower itself is not open to the public, Sohier Park provides perfect viewing and photography spots. Nubble Light’s image even traveled into space aboard the Voyager spacecraft in 1977, as part of a pictorial representation of Earth’s landmarks.
Goat Island Lighthouse — Kennebunkport
Goat Island Lighthouse is an active, historic lighthouse located on a small island off Cape Porpoise, near Kennebunkport, Maine. Owned and maintained by the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust since 1993, the station was restored to its 1950s appearance in 2011.
- Height: The tower is 25 feet tall.
- Focal Height: The focal plane (the height of the light source) is 38 feet above mean high water.
- Status: Active. The U.S. Coast Guard maintains the light as a navigational aid, though the property is owned and managed by the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust.
- Access: Public access to the island is limited and primarily by boat.
- Visitors can dock at the island during high tide in the summer months, and can explore the island’s grounds. Tours of the tower may be available if the volunteer keepers are home. For views from land, the lighthouse can be seen from the pier at the end of Pier Road in Cape Porpoise.
- GPS Address: The lighthouse itself does not have a street address. Its location is:
- Latitude: 43°21’28.3″N
- Longitude: 70°25’30.6″W
Pemaquid Point Light — Bristol
- Year Built: 1827 (rebuilt in 1835)
- Height: 38 feet
- Focal Height: 79 feet
- Status: Active, automated
- Access: Public (tower and grounds open)
- GPS Address: 3115 Bristol Road, New Harbor, ME 04554
One of Maine’s most dramatic lighthouses, Pemaquid Point was chosen to appear on the Maine state quarter in 2003. Perched on rugged ledges, the tower is accompanied by the Fishermen’s Museum, which tells the story of local maritime culture. Visitors can climb the lighthouse tower during summer months and walk the wave-washed granite ledges that surround it.
Owls Head Light — Owls Head State Park, Maine
- Year Built: 1825
- Height: 30 feet
- Focal Height: 100 feet
- Status: Active, automated
- Access: Public (grounds and keeper’s house museum)
- GPS Address: 186 Lighthouse Road, Owls Head, ME 04854
Though modest in size, Owls Head Light commands sweeping views of Penobscot Bay. Its short tower sits atop a rocky cliff, and the light itself shines nearly 16 miles out to sea thanks to its high focal plane. The site includes walking trails, picnic areas, and a small museum inside the former keeper’s quarters.
Bass Harbor Head Light — Mount Desert Island (Acadia National Park)
- Year Built: 1858
- Height: 32 feet
- Focal Height: 56 feet
- Status: Active, automated
- Access: Public (grounds open; lighthouse itself not open)
- GPS Address: 2 Lighthouse Road, Bass Harbor, ME 04653
Located on the southern tip of Mount Desert Island, Bass Harbor Head Light is one of the most iconic sights within Acadia National Park. Set on rugged cliffs, it’s a favorite for sunset views and photographs. The surrounding walking paths allow for dramatic viewpoints of the lighthouse against the Atlantic.
Lighthouse Preservation in Maine
Maine’s lighthouses are preserved through the Maine Lighthouse Program, created in 2000 in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, the State of Maine, and nonprofit organizations. The program ensures that historic lighthouses no longer critical for navigation are transferred to local communities and nonprofits for preservation, while still remaining accessible to the public.
Organizations like the American Lighthouse Foundation and local “Friends of” groups maintain the structures, restore towers, and keep alive the stories of the lighthouse keepers who once braved storms to keep the lights burning.
Lighthouse Terms & Glossary
Understanding lighthouses means knowing some key terminology:
- Pharologist: A person who studies or is interested in lighthouses.
- Wickie: A nickname for a lighthouse keeper, referencing their task of trimming the lamp’s wick.
- Tower: The vertical structure that houses the light.
- Lamp: The device inside the lens that produces the light, which could be anything from an oil lamp to a modern electric light bulb.
- Lantern: The glassed-in chamber at the top of the tower where the light shines.
- Lens: The optical system that focuses the light beam. Most Maine lighthouses used Fresnel lenses, developed in the 1820s.
- Fresnel lens: An advanced type of lens, invented by Augustin-Jean Fresnel in 1822, that uses a system of concentric ridges and prisms to focus and magnify light into a powerful, concentrated beam.
- Focal Height: The height of the light above sea level, not just the tower’s height. This determines how far out to sea the light can be seen.
- Characteristic: The unique sequence of light flashes and eclipses (periods of darkness) that allows a mariner to identify a specific lighthouse.
- Daymark: The painted color or pattern on the tower, allowing it to be identified during the day.
- Flash Pattern: The unique sequence of light flashes or intervals each lighthouse displays, enabling mariners to identify them at night.
- Fog Signal: A horn, bell, or whistle sounded during poor visibility.
- Nominal Range: The maximum distance a light can be seen in clear weather.
- Range lights: A pair of lights, one placed higher than the other, that indicate a safe channel when aligned vertically.
- Automated: Most lighthouses today are automated, meaning no human keeper is required to operate the light.
- Lightship: A vessel that serves as a lighthouse and is anchored in locations unsuitable for a permanent tower.
- Decommissioned: A lighthouse that no longer functions as a navigational aid.
- Lighthouse Keeper: A lighthouse keeper or lightkeeper is a person responsible for tending to and caring for a lighthouse, particularly the light and lens in the days when oil lamps and clockwork mechanisms
Why Explore Maine’s Lighthouses During Your Stay
Exploring Maine’s lighthouses is more than a sightseeing trip—it’s a journey through the state’s maritime history, coastal culture, and natural beauty. Each lighthouse offers its own unique experience, from museums and gift shops to picnic spots and walking trails. Guests of the Center Lovell Inn can spend the morning enjoying the peaceful lakes and mountains, then set out on a coastal drive to visit these timeless beacons before returning to the comfort of the Inn.
Whether you’re a history buff, a photographer, or simply someone who loves the romance of the sea, Maine’s lighthouses are sure to leave a lasting impression.
**Check-out: Maine’s Coastal Route 1 – Only the Best Stops