Portland Head Light - Cape Elizabeth Maine’s first lighthouse and its most famous, located near the entrance to Portland Harbor. Commissioned by George Washington, it was built in 1791. Visited by thousands of people each year, sightseers can see over 200 Casco Bay Islands from it. The light had a second order Fresnel lens but now has a rotating beam. This is photographed often, you may have seen it on calendars, puzzles and posters. Portland Head Light
In my area of Maine, the most photographed lighthouse is Bass Harbor Head Light, which was built in 1858. It is located on Mt Desert Island. Other lighthouses in the area include Blue Hill Bay in Brooklin, built in 1856, Baker Island Light in the Cranberry Isles, built in 1822 at the entrance to Frenchman Bay, and Bear Island Light at the entrance to Northeast Harbor. There are also three in Winter Harbor - Egg Rock Light, Mt. Desert Rock and Winter Harbor Light. There is Pumpkin Island Light, off of Little Deer Isle on Blue Hill Bay, or more specifically, Eggemoggin Reach. This is a light house I can visit often!
Although I grew up in Massachusetts, My family spent our summers and any free time we had in Cape Neddick, Maine. My Grandparents built a small house there in 1920. We summered in that house until my parents bought a bigger, updated house across the road. ( I liked the little one better) Now Cape Neddick has grown up and is much more heavily populated. But I remember being the only one on my beach. It was a great place to grow up! I played in the sand, played on the rocks and I swam in the ocean as much as I could.I fell asleep hearing the fog horn off in the distance. My Nubble Light 1950's Oh yes, the water in the Gulf of Maine is very cold because of the way the currents run. But it didn’t bother me! As I stood on ‘my’ beach, on the Shore Road I could see Nubble Light. When I was very little someone told me that it was MY light house. Well as far as I am concerned IT IS ! (Not really!) Built in 1879, the light on the tower is 88ft. above high tide water. It was first named The Knubbles for the rock formation under and around it. The deck around the light has an iron rail around it. Little iron lighthouses sit on top of the vertical rails. From what I hear, picture of Nubble was sent with Voyager 2 in 1977. Nubble's friendliness speaks by itself.
It is seen from Sohier Park in York Beach. Nubble Light is now
owned by the town and hopefully will soon undergo restoraton.
Many people lived in the house over the years and added their own
improvements making a kind of hodge podge of decor.
Isle Au Haut, A lighthouse you can stay in! Built in 1907, The cone shaped tower is gray granite on the bottom, white brick on the top. A wooden bridge connects the lighthouse to the shore. The Keeper's House, the name of the inn, is an operating lighthouse station. It is located near my home, on an island which is part of Acadia National Park. From Stonington, you take the mailboat out to the island. There are many little islands, so the working light house has been a necessity. The lighthouse is basically unchanged since 1907. There is no electricity, the light is fueled by gas. being an island, and not viewed from the mainland, this little lighthouse is a quiet romantic place - no crowds - no tourists. Isle Au Haut
Fort Point in Stockton Springs
at the mouth of the Penobscot River. The original wooden lighthouse at Fort Point first was built in 1837. In 1857it was rebuilt,replaced by the brick tower and automated in 1988. The tower is 31 feet high,the light is 88 feet above sea level.
The pyramidal fog bell tower, built in 1890, is on the National Register of Historic Places.
It is named after a former Massachusetts Governor Pownall, who built fortifications here in 1759. Maine was part of Massachusetts at that time.
West Quoddy Light, was built in 1808, and was lit for 50 years. In 1858, they rebuilt it. The 1858 lighthouse exists to this day.
West Quoddy Light is the easternmost point in the United States.
West Quoddy Light has a 3rd Order Fresnel lenswhich is being used today. The tower is 49 feet tall. The light is 83 feet above sea level. The cliffs add to its height. It is painted in red and white stripes. It is quite visible even without the light.
There was an interesting sign there, "30 second warning bell ! Before the fog horn sounds, leave area at once to prevent permanent hearing loss. Well the fog was starting to come in a little bit so we didn't wait for the horn. We headed for the International line to visit East Quoddy Light.
West Quoddy grounds are public and in a state park where you can camp and hike. Down over the cliffs, and depending on the tide, there is a nice little rocky beach. The house and tower are closed to the public. West Quoddy day trip photos
East Quoddy Light just over the international bridge, and not in Maine at all. Once you cross the international bridge you are on Campobello Island, in New Brunswick, Canada. On this island is the historical site of Franklin D. Roosevelts family summer home.
East Quoddy is very difficult to actually get to. The drive to it is not difficult or very far from the bridge and is well marked, but after you park you have to stand on the huge rocky cliff to catch a glimpse of it. Signs warn of the VERY dangerous, very fast incoming tide that rises extremely fast and is definately not something you can wade through. To get below the cliff to walk across at low tide you have to climb slippery metal ladders.Here is one of the ladders and deal with the green slimy algea covered rocks. However, the not so faint at heart and agile can catch some very nice views of the area at the lighthouse.
East Quoddy Light uses a red beacon, and because of the cliffs and rocks in the vicinity,
this lighthouse is still very much needed. East Quoddy Light
For more information about lighthouses visit the Shore Village Museum and the A Great Nubble Lightpage. It is a part of the Shore Village Lighthouse Museum in Rockland, Maine. It has a lot of excellent photos and descriptions. You will love it !
LEGENDARY LIGHTHOUSES
http://www.pbs.org
PBS had an excellent series called Legendary Lighthouses.
