The Pemaquid Point Lighthouse showcases special cut-glass lenses. The Pemaquid Point Lighthouse features special cut-glass lenses.
Our knowledge of lighthouses is decidedly more like the stuff from “Scooby-Doo” rather than the real deal. You know: A flash of lightning cracks open the heavens above as a solitary shadow, dressed in a long raincoat, slowly strolls along the craggy shore of a small spit of land, carrying a single lantern as it ascends the spiraling stairs.
But for one day at least, the state of Maine is attempting to change all that. On September 14th, the US Coast Guard, the Maine Office of Tourism, and the American Lighthouse Foundation will sponsor Maine Open Lighthouse Day. The event is precisely as its name implies: a multitude of the state’s lighthouses will be open to the public, free of charge (although a small donation is encouraged), from 9 am to 3 pm, with some lighthouses specifying slightly different hours.
Travel Time
It takes 3 hours and 30 minutes from Boston.
Visit the keeper’s home at Owls Head Lighthouse.
| Photo courtesy of Maine Office of Tourism
The Must-See Maine Lighthouses
To experience a sea-washed maritime tower that is over two centuries old, Monhegan Island Lighthouse is the ideal starting point. Admittedly, it’s a 3-hour-and-45-minute drive from Boston to Port Clyde—and then a ferry ride is required afterward—but it’s definitely worth the journey. The lighthouse, first constructed in 1822, includes a museum and stands 170 feet above the high-tide line.
Meanwhile, despite what the name suggests, you won’t regret heading to Mistake Island to visit the Moose Peak Lighthouse near Jonesport (a five-and-a-half-hour drive from Boston). This light tower is open to view by its private owners, who will pick you up by boat and take you five miles by sea to your final destination, making this a particularly unique experience. Contact the owners at moosepeaklighthouse@gmail.com to arrange your visit.
Anyone with a nostalgic interest in “Where’s Waldo?” will enjoy the red-and-white-striped West Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Lubec, which, along with its colorful appearance, also makes use of a third order Fresnel lens. Invented by Augustin-Jean Fresnel in 1822, it employs glass prisms and a bull’s-eye lens to project light for miles in any direction at a significantly reduced weight compared to its predecessors.
For those looking to train for a stair-based 5k or simply want a lighthouse that isn’t a half-day drive from Boston, Portland Head Lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth is the beacon for you. It’s a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Boston, and visitors must be at least 48 inches tall and able to climb around 85 stairs unaided. The attached museum is located in the former lighthouse keeper’s house and showcases various historical documents and navigation objects.
Where to Eat
Make the short drive to Cape Elizabeth for the Dr. Seuss-like lighthouse and enjoy lunch at The Lobster Shack. Choose from various forms of lobster (such as a lobster roll boat or a lobster meat salad), and finish it off with a slice of strawberry rhubarb pie.
On the way to Jonesport or Lubec from Monhegan, stop by The Mooring Chain, which is home to Monhegan Coffee Roasters. The co-owners, Carley and Mott, formerly a professional upholsterer and a woodworker respectively, turned their love for Monhegan and coffee into a company that supplies locally roasted beans to numerous cafes in the area. The Barnacle, which also partners with La Nef Chocolate from Monhegan, a small-batch boutique chocolate company, offers both Monhegan Coffee Roasters coffee and La Nef Chocolate sweet treats all in one place.
Or, if you’re craving something filling after the long drive to Jonesport, head to Jonesport Pizza. Their daily specials range from chicken parm on Tuscan bread to the nacho burger (yes, there’s queso).
Where to Rest
If a nearly six-hour drive doesn’t sound appealing when the day is over, return to the cozy accommodations of the Water Street Tavern & Inn. The Inn on the Wharf, which is right on the ocean’s edge, also provides a place to stay to enjoy the amenities of the expansive Maine landscape — including lobster.
A little closer to Boston, the luxurious Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth will uplift the spirits of any weary traveler.
If taking the ferry to Monhegan Island is enough boat travel for one day, stay at The Cracked Mug. This home away from home is run by innkeeper Melanie Tucker, who formerly owned a travel business and started the inn’s tradition of offering a three-course breakfast. The sound of the nearby waves will lull you to sleep no matter how brightly Maine’s legendary lighthouses illuminate the night sky.
