Maine’s ‘Open Lighthouse Day’ September 13th
Maine’s annual Open Lighthouse Day is Saturday, September 13. On that day, 22 lighthouses around the state will offer free admission to visitors. The annual draw is 15,000 to 18,000 people as they get the opportunity to climb to the top of the lighthouses.
There is a rich history in Maine with its lighthouses and this is a chance to teach visitors about lighthouses and lighthouse keepers. Maine is sometime referred to as the ‘Lighthouse State’ because of the 70 lighthouses that guarded Maine’s coast, today 65 still stand.
Take a look at this website lighthousefoundation.org to locate the lighthouses and below is a list of areas and lighthouses to visit.
South Coast:
Wood Island Lighthouse (offshore at Biddeford Pool). Reach by boat aboard "Light Runner" with advance reservations. Open: Light tower and keeper's house
Greater Portland and Casco:
Portland Breakwater Lighthouse (land-based in South Portland) -- Tower referred to as "Bug Light". Open: Light tower
Portland Head Lighthouse (land-based in Cape Elizabeth) -- Tower reached by climbing 85+ steps. Open: Light tower and keeper's house (Museum inside & adjacent gift shop)
Spring Point Lighthouse (land-based in South Portland) -- Reached via a breakwater. Open: Light tower
Mid-Coast:
Burnt Island Lighthouse (offshore in Boothbay Harbor) -- Access from Pier 8 via Balmy Day Cruises. Open: Light tower and keeper’s house (Living History museum inside)
Curtis Island Lighthouse (Camden). Open: Light tower
Doubling Point Lighthouse (land-based in Arrowsic, along the Kennebec River). Open: Light tower
Fort Point Lighthouse (land-based in Stockton Springs). Open: Light tower (with fourth-order Fresnel lens) and bell tower (exhibits inside)
Grindle Point Lighthouse (offshore in Islesboro) -- Reach via the Maine State Ferry from Lincolnville to Islesboro. Open: Light tower and keeper's house (Museum & gift shop inside)
Goat Island Lighthouse (offshore with access from the Cape Porpoise Pier). Open: Light tower and keeper’s house
Kennebec River Front Range Light (land-based in Arrowsic, along the Kennebec River). Open: The front range light; rear range light viewed at a distance
Marshall Point Lighthouse (land-based at PortClyde). Open: Light tower and keeper's house (Museum & gift shop inside)
Monhegan (offshore on Monhegan Island) -- Reach via boats from Port Clyde, New Harbor and Boothbay Harbor. Open: Light tower and keeper's house (Museum inside)
Owls Head Lighthouse (land-based in Owls Head) -- Contains a fourth-order Fresnel lens. Open: Light tower and keeper's house (Interpretive center & gift shop inside)
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse (land-based in Bristol) -- Contains a fourth-order Fresnel lens. Open: Light tower and keeper's house (Museum inside)
Rockland Breakwater (land-based in Rockland) -- Reached via a 7/8-mile-long walk along the breakwater or boat. Open: Light tower and keeper's house
Seguin Island (offshore off Popham Beach) -- Reached by Seguin Island Ferry; contains a first-order Fresnel lens (the only one of its kind in Maine). Open: Light tower and keeper's house (Museum and gift shop inside)
Whitehead Island Lighthouse (offshore near Sprucehead) -- Reached via boat from Whitehead Light Station with advance reservations. Open: Light tower and keeper's house
Downeast:
Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse (Mount Desert Island). Contains fourth order Fresnel lens. Open: Light tower
Burnt Coat Harbor Lighthouse (offshore on Swan's Island) -- Reach via Maine State Ferry from Bass Harbor. Open: Light tower and keeper’s house (art exhibit).
Dyce Head Lighthouse (land-based in Castine). Open: Light tower
West Quoddy Head Lighthouse (land-based in Lubec) -- Contains a third-order Fresnel lens. Open: Light tower and keeper's house (Museum inside)
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