Open Lighthouse Day In Maine Is Saturday September 13th

When folks "from away" think of Maine, they think of moose, lobster, pine trees and lighthouses.  Sometime Maine is referred to as "the lighthouse state."

"Open Lighthouse Day" happens on Saturday, September 13th, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.  You and your family can enter and tour 22 iconic light stations here in our state at no charge!

"Open Lighthouse Day" is sponsored by the United States Coast Guard, the Maine Office Of Tourism and the American Lighthouse Foundation.

Usually the event draws anywhere between 15,000 to 18,000 visitors annually. Maine has more lighthouses than anywhere else in the country.

Here's the locations in our area that will be open to the public:

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)

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

For more information about this special day and what other lighthouse locations are participating click HERE.