Maine with its 5000-mile rocky shore, boasts 65 lighthouses. These beacons of light, as well as sound, guided ships, sailors and fishermen to safety within the harbors that they stood/stand watch over. The Maine coast was notorious for its thick unpredictable fog, which would shroud the area, thick as pea soup. Ethereal sea smoke rises beautifully off the water when the air is much colder creating a mesmerizing yet hazardous phenomenon, as it thickens visibility is inhibited. With the increasing ocean and air temperatures the occurrence of fog has become less frequent. The lighthouses continue to be functional and needed when the fog does roll in or a storm hits the coast.
The State is home to some of the world’s most iconic lighthouses, visited by thousands each year, from photographers, history buffs, lighthouse enthusiasts, to pharologists (those that study lighthouses and signal lights). You can begin the journey at the Maine-New Hampshire border at the Whaleback Ledge Lighthouse and end it at the West Quoddy Head Lighthouse which is the easternmost in the United States. The Portland Head Light was the first lighthouse constructed on the shores of Maine; it was commissioned by George Washington in 1791.
Some you can visit; others are just visible offshore. They contain parks, museums, lighthouse keeper houses/quarters, the ability to go up the lighthouse and offer exceptional photo opportunities.
US Government began issuing state quarters in 1999, initially issuing at a rate of approximately five per year with the program running through 2008 to include all states and then territories in 2009. The Maine State Quarter, issued in 2003, depicted the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse located on the point of the peninsula on the Muscongus Bay side. It was commissioned by President John Quincy Adams in 1827. It sits on exposed bedrock ledge which dramatically slopes down into the ocean. A famous reflection pool is created by the waves, making for award winning photographs of the lighthouse in its mirror.
The above photograph was taken by Chris Sanchez of Boston Photography.
Each year over 100,000 visitors go to the Pemaquid Lighthouse, which is one of the most photographed in the world. It is the trifecta of opportunities for photographers…lighthouse, sunrise and sunset. Some facts….
- The original lighthouse was rebuilt in 1835 because they used salt water in the mortar in 1827 which caused the lighthouse sides to crumble.
- The lighthouse lens can be seen from 14 nautical miles away.
- Part of the keeper’s house is now home to the Fishermen’s Museum, showcasing local maritime history.
- Pemaquid Point Lighthouse was the first lighthouse to be featured on a U.S. coin.
- The lighthouse has been automated since 1934, no longer requiring a full-time keeper.
- Part of the keepers quarters can be rented out for overnight stays
- Wedding ceremonies are held overlooking the rocks and ocean close to every Saturday during the summer, many hosting their receptions at The Bradley Inn. The following photograph was taken by Sparrow and Lace Photography.
Make The Bradley Inn your home base as its location enables you to take day trips to see multiple lighthouses within a couple of hours each direction. The Pemaquid Lighthouse is a mere 4-minute walk from The Bradley Inn from which you can catch the lighthouse at sunrise and then again at sunset later in the day. Relax in one of our uniquely decorated guest rooms, each offering a cozy and comfortable retreat from a day filled with exploration, indulge in a delectable three course breakfast and savor a gourmet dinner in our award-winning restaurant.
