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Guides to Maine Lighthouses

New England Lighthouses 

This web site guide is perfect for photos and histories of Maine lighthouses (over 60 of them).   Created by a lighthouse historian, the site includes original lighthouse photos, extensive lighthouse histories and helpful visitor info for nearly 200 New England lighthouses.  Simply a wealth of information on lighthouses, their keepers and their rich traditions.

Maine Lighthouses Map & Guide 

Illustrated map and guide to all the lighthouses in Maine.  Each lighthouse is named and located on a highway map of Maine.  Also included is a brief history of each Maine lighthouse plus directions to the lighthouse or to the best viewing spot. 

The Lighthouse Companion - Maine 

Comprehensive guide to Maine lighthouses.  Lighthouse descriptions include full-color photographs by New England native Paul Rezendes, brief histories, directions, and contact info to arrange lighthouse tours.  Appendices to the guide cover local lodging, events and sites of interest.  Great travel companion.

Lighthouses of Maine Guidebook 

Practical travel information, stunning color photographs and rich maritime history all included within this guide to lighthouses in Maine. 

National Park Service - Lighthouses to Visit 

This National Park Service site offers photos, historical information and public access data on over 70 Maine lighthouses.  The following is a list of Maine lighthouses that are open to the public (though in many cases, only the lighthouse grounds are open, so check the following online listings to be sure):  Baker Island Light, Bass Harbor Head Light, Browns Head Light, Burnt Coat Harbor Light, Burnt Island Light, Cape Neddick "Nubble" Light, Curtis Island Light, Dice Head Light, Fort Point Light, Goat Island Light, Grindel Point Light, Isle Au Haut (Robinson Point) Light, Marshall Point Light, Matinicus Rock Light, Monhegan Island Light, Owls Head Light, Pemaquid Point Light, Perkins Island Light, Petit Manan Light, Portland Breakwater Light ("Bug Light"), Portland Head Light, Rockland Harbor Breakwater Light, Seguin Island Light, Spring Point Ledge Light and West Quoddy Head Light. 

The following is a list of Maine lighthouses that are NOT open to the public (at least not through the National Park Service): Bear Island Light, Blue Hill Bay Light, Boon Island Light, Cape Elizabeth Lights, Cuckolds Light, Deer Island Thorofare Light, Doubling Point (Kennebec River) Range Lights, Doubling Point Light, Eagle Island Light, Egg Rock Light, Franklin Island Light, Goose Rocks Light, Great Duck Island Light, Halfway Rock Light, Hendricks Head Light, Heron Neck Light, Indian Island Light, Libby Island Light, Lubec Channel Light, Moose Peak Light, Mount Desert Rock Light, Narraguagus (Pond Island) Light, Nash Island Light, Pond Island Light, Prospect Harbor Point Light, Pumpkin Island Light, Ram Island Ledge Light, Ram Island Light, Saddleback Ledge Light, Squirrel Point Light, Tenants Harbor Light, Two Bush Island Light, Whaleback Ledge Light, Whitehead Island Light, Whitlock's Mill Light, Winter Harbor Light and Wood Island Light.

Reading Material - Lighthouse Books

Portland Head Light - A Pictorial Journey Through Time 

The most complete book on Maine's Portland Head Lighthouse ever published.  Includes rare and historic photos of Portland Head Light, plus memories and stories of the keepers who lived there, such as those about the ghost, the sea serpent and more.  Also includes historical information about nearby lighthouses.  Also be sure to visit the web site of the Portland Head Light museum in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.  See TOURIST VIDEO. 

Lighthouses and Life Saving Along the Maine Coast 

Rare photos plus well researched historical text about lighthouses along the Maine coast.  Nice book for lighthouse buffs. 

Lighthouses of Maine 

Photos of Kennebec River Range, Franklin Island, Brown's Head and Whitlock's Mill Lights from the U.S. Lighthouse Society.  Photos of Narraguagas, Machias Seal and Seguin Island Lights courtesy of Lighthouse Digest.  Also see The Range Light Keepers, a web site about the history and workings of the Kennebec River Range Lights.

Lighthouses and Lightships of Casco Bay 

Comprehensive guide to the many historically and architecturally significant lighthouses and lightships of Casco Bay.  Includes many historic photos. 

Legendary Lighthouses - DVD - VHS (all) - VHS (Maine) - Books 1 & 2

In 1998, PBS ran a mini-series called "Legendary Lighthouses."  The series is available in DVD or VHS format, plus companion books in two volumes.  All lighthouses featured in the PBS series are described or listed in the companion books, which also include travel directions and additional sources of information.  The PBS web site still includes photos of the Maine lighthouses featured in the Legendary Lighthouses mini-series.

Lighthouse Digest Magazine

It is a magazine, not a book, but each issue of Lighthouse Digest includes news of lighthouses in Maine, across the nation and around the world, with stories of lighthouse keepers past and present, tales of heroism and hardship, tours, and lighthouse restoration projects.  Lighthouse Digest is published 11 times a year in Maine.  Subscribe.

Children's Books Featuring Lighthouses in Maine

Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie 

Ages 4 to 8.  Grades 1 to 3.  Based on a true story of an 1856 storm off the coast of Maine, Abbie's tale is one of endurance and bravery.  When Abbie's lighthouse keeper father sails off for supplies, he leaves Abbie in charge of lighting the oil lamps of the lighthouse towers.  When a storm hits, Abbie bravely keeps the lighthouse lamps lit.

Bear & Katie in the Great Searsport Caper 

Up to age 9.  Bear and Katie are two black labs.  While visiting the small town of Searsport, Maine, Bear and Katie find themselves on an adventure that takes them to several lighthouses in search of a treasure.  The two dogs, along with two children, Michael and Julia, find a gold coin and a mystery map.  The search is on!

Captain's Castaway 

Pre-school to Grade 2.  Based on a true story of a sea captain's dog that survived a shipwreck off the coast of Maine in the 1800s.  Sarah, a lighthouse keeper's daughter, nurses the dog to health and names him "Seadog."  When the sea captain later returns and takes him away, Seadog jumps from the captain's boat and swims back to Sarah.

Lighthouse Dog to the Rescue 

Ages 4 to 8.  Grades K - 3.  Captivating narrative based on the true story of Spot, a springer spaniel who lived with the daughters and keeper of Owls Head Light in Penobscot Bay.  One night, when a blizzard made the warning light useless and a blanket of ice silenced the bell, only Spot's barks could help the the mail boat captain chart a safe course home.

Some Maine Lighthouse Photos

Bass Harbor Head Light (copyright Maine.Info)

Portland Head Light (copyright Maine.Info)

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