List of lighthouses in Maine

This is a list of all lighthouses in the U.S. state of Maine as identified by the United States Coast Guard.^[1] There are fifty-seven active lights in the state, two of which are maintained as private aids; nine are standing but inactive, and three have been destroyed, one of which has been replaced by a skeleton tower. This includes two stations which originally featured twin towers; in both cases both towers survive but only one of each pair is active.

The Portland Head Light, first lit in 1791, is the oldest light in the state and was the first US lighthouse completed after independence from Britain.^[2][3] The last lighthouse in the state, the second Whitlocks Mill Light, was first lit in 1910; it is also the most northerly light in the state and therefore on the US Atlantic Coast.^[4] The West Quoddy Head Light sits on the easternmost point of the continental United States.^[5] The tallest tower is that of Boon Island Light at 137 ft (42 m),^[6] though the Seguin Light focal plane, at 180 ft (55 m), is the highest in the state.^[2]

Map of All Lighthouses in Maine

Lighthouse preservation in Maine has been facilitated by the Maine Lighthouse Program, which arose in the aftermath of the Rockland-based Island Institute's successful but protracted negotiations to acquire the keeper's house of the Heron Neck Light Station.^[7] A program for facilitating transfers was proposed by Peter Ralston of the institute,^[8] and legislation was first introduced by George J. Mitchell; a subsequent bill submitted by Olympia Snowe in 1995 met with greater success and was signed into law late in 1996 as part of the coast guard authorization act.^[7] Under the program, thirty-six light stations were offered to qualified preservation and historical groups and local governments; applications for transfer were reviewed by a board set up at the state level, headed by Richard I. Rybacki, a retired USCG rear admiral.^[7] Four lights were to be transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife; twenty-eight other lights were transferred in the summer of 1998.^[7] Prior to this program, some lights in the state had already been sold to individuals following deactivation in the 1930s. The most notable of these is the Tenants Harbor Light, which was purchased by Andrew Wyeth in 1978.^[9]

If not otherwise noted, focal height and coordinates are taken from the United States Coast Guard Light List,^[10] while location and dates of activation, automation, and deactivation are taken from the United States Coast Guard Historical information site for lighthouses.^[1]

Lighthouses

Name	Image	Location	Coordinates	Year first lit	Automated	Year deactivated	Current Lens	Focal Height
Avery Rock Light		Machias (Machias Bay)	44.654°N 67.344°W / 44.654; -67.344 (Avery Rock Light)[11]	1875	1926	1947 (Destroyed)	None	056 56 ft (17 m)[11]
Baker Island Light		Cranberry Isles (Baker Island)	44.2381°N 68.1990°W / 44.2381; -68.1990 (Baker Island Light)	1828 (Former) 1855 (Current)	1966	Active	Fourth-order Fresnel	105 105 ft (32 m)
Bass Harbor Head Light		Tremont (Mount Desert Island)	44.2218°N 68.3373°W / 44.2218; -68.3373 (Bass Harbor Head Light)	1858	1974	Active	Fourth-order Fresnel	056 56 ft (17 m)
Bear Island Light		Cranberry Isles (Bear Island)	44.2838°N 68.270°W / 44.2838; -68.270 (Bear Island Light)	1839 (Former) 1889 (Current)	1989	Active (Inactive: 1981–1989)	Plastic	100 100 ft (30 m)
Blue Hill Bay Light		Blue Hill (Blue Hill Bay)	44.2489°N 68.4977°W / 44.2489; -68.4977 (Blue Hill Bay Light)[12]	1857 (Former) 1935 (Current)	1935	1935 (Former) Active (Current)	Unknown	025 25 ft (7.6 m)
Boon Island Light		York (Boon Island)	43.1214°N 70.4764°W / 43.1214; -70.4764 (Boon Island Light)	1811 (Former) 1855 (Current)	1980	Active	VRB-25	137 137 ft (42 m)
Browns Head Light		Vinalhaven (Browns Head)	44.1118°N 68.9095°W / 44.1118; -68.9095 (Browns Head Light)	1832 (Former) 1857 (Current)	1987	Active	Fifth-order Fresnel	039 39 ft (12 m)
Burnt Coat Harbor Light		Swan's Island (Hockamock Head)	44.1341°N 68.4472°W / 44.1341; -68.4472 (Burnt Coat Harbor Light)	1872	1975	Active	Unknown	075 75 ft (23 m)
Burnt Island Light		Boothbay Harbor (Burnt Island)	43.8252°N 69.6402°W / 43.8252; -69.6402 (Burnt Island Light)	1821	1988	Active	Electrified beacon	061 61 ft (19 m)
Cape Elizabeth Lights		Cape Elizabeth (Casco Bay)	43.5661°N 70.2001°W / 43.5661; -70.2001 (East Cape Elizabeth Light) (East tower)43.5642°N 70.2025°W / 43.5642; -70.2025 (Cape Elizabeth Light) (West tower)[13]	1828 (West tower) 1874 (East tower)	1963 (East)	1924 (West) Active (East)	VRB-25	129 129 ft (39 m)
Cape Neddick Light		York (Cape Neddick)	43.1652°N 70.6078°W / 43.1652; -70.6078 (Cape Neddick Light)	1879	1987	Active	Fourth-order Fresnel	088 88 ft (27 m)
Crabtree Ledge Light		Frenchman Bay (Crabtree Neck)	44.470°N 68.203°W / 44.470; -68.203 (Crabtree Ledge Light)[14]	1890	Never	1933 (Destroyed in 1950[15])	None	037 37 ft (11 m)[15]
Cuckolds Light		Boothbay Harbor (Cuckold Islets)	43.7795°N 69.6500°W / 43.7795; -69.6500 (The Cuckolds Light)	1892 (Former) 1907 (Current)	1972	Active	VRB-25	059 59 ft (18 m)
Curtis Island Light		Camden (Penobscot Bay)	44.2014°N 69.0489°W / 44.2014; -69.0489 (Curtis Island Light)	1835 (Former) 1896 (Current)	1972	Active	Unknown	052 52 ft (16 m)
Deer Island Thorofare Light		Stonington? (Penobscot Bay)	44.1344°N 68.7033°W / 44.1344; -68.7033 (Deer Island Thorofare Light)	1857	1958	Active	250mm	052 52 ft (16 m)
Dice Head Light		Castine	44.3827°N 68.8186°W / 44.3827; -68.8186 (Dice Head Light)	1829	1937	Active (Inactive: 1937–2007)[16]	Unknown	134 134 ft (41 m)
Doubling Point Range Lights		Arrowsic (Arrowsic Island)	43.8828°N 69.7957°W / 43.8828; -69.7957 (Doubling Point Range Front Light) (Front light) 43.8848°N 69.7957°W / 43.8848; -69.7957 (Doubling Point Range Rear Light) (Rear light)	1898	1980	Active	Unknown	018 18 ft (5.5 m) (Front light) 33 ft (10 m) (Rear light)
Doubling Point Light		Arrowsic	43.8825°N 69.8068°W / 43.8825; -69.8068 (Doubling Point Light)	1898	1988	Active	Fifth-order Fresnel	023 23 ft (7.0 m)
Eagle Island Light		Eagle Island (Penobscot Bay)	44.2176°N 68.7678°W / 44.2176; -68.7678 (Eagle Island Light)	1838 (Former) 1858 (Current)	1959	Active	Fourth-order Fresnel	023 23 ft (7.0 m)
Egg Rock Light		Frenchman Bay	44.3539°N 68.1383°W / 44.3539; -68.1383 (Egg Rock Light)	1875	1976	Active	VRB-25	064 64 ft (20 m)
Fort Point Light		Stockton Springs (Penobscot River)	44.4671°N 68.8117°W / 44.4671; -68.8117 (Fort Point Light)	1836 (Former) 1857 (Current)	1988	Active	Fourth-order Fresnel	088 88 ft (27 m)
Franklin Island Light		Franklin Island (Muscongus Bay)	43.8921°N 69.3746°W / 43.8921; -69.3746 (Franklin Island Light)	1805 (Former) 1855 (Current)	1967	Active	250mm	057 57 ft (17 m)
Goat Island Light		Kennebunkport (Cape Porpoise)	43.3579°N 70.4251°W / 43.3579; -70.4251 (Goat Island Light)	1835 (Former) 1859 (Current)	1990	Active	300mm	038 38 ft (12 m)
Goose Rocks Light		North Haven (Penobscot Bay)	44.1354°N 68.8307°W / 44.1354; -68.8307 (Goose Rocks Light)	1890	1963	Active	250mm	051 51 ft (16 m)
Great Duck Island Light		Frenchboro (Great Duck Island)	44.1420°N 68.2458°W / 44.1420; -68.2458 (Great Duck Island Light)	1890	1986	Active	VRB-25	067 67 ft (20 m)
Grindel Point Light		Islesboro	44.2814°N 68.9431°W / 44.2814; -68.9431 (Grindel Point Light)	1874	1934	Active (Inactive: 1934–1987)[17]	250mm	067 67 ft (20 m)
Halfway Rock Light		Casco Bay	43.6558°N 70.0368°W / 43.6558; -70.0368 (Halfway Rock Light)	1871	1975	Active	VRB-25	076 76 ft (23 m)
Hendricks Head Light		Southport (Sheepscot River)	43.8226°N 69.6897°W / 43.8226; -69.6897 (Hendricks Head Light)	1829 (Former) 1875 (Current)	1951	Active (Inactive: 1933–1951)[18]	250mm	043 43 ft (13 m)
Heron Neck Light		Vinalhaven (Penobscot Bay)	44.0251°N 68.8622°W / 44.0251; -68.8622 (Heron Neck Light)	1854	1984	Active	Fifth-order Fresnel	092 92 ft (28 m)
Indian Island Light		Rockport	44.1655°N 69.0610°W / 44.1655; -69.0610 (Indian Island Light)[19]	1850 (Former) 1875 (Current)	Never	1934	None	Unknown
Isle Au Haut Light		Isle au Haut	44.0647°N 68.6514°W / 44.0647; -68.6514 (Isle Au Haut Light)	1907	1934	Active	250mm	048 48 ft (15 m)
Ladies Delight Light		Winthrop, Maine (Lake Cobbosseecontee)		1908	1930s	Active	Unknown	025 25 ft (7.6 m)
Libby Island Light		Machiasport (Machias Bay)	44.5683°N 67.3674°W / 44.5683; -67.3674 (Libby Island Light)	1822 (Former) 1848 (Current)	1974	Active	VRB-25	091 91 ft (28 m)
Little River Light		Cutler	44.6509°N 67.1921°W / 44.6509; -67.1921 (Little River Light)	1846 (Former) 1876 (Current)	1975	Active (Inactive: 1975–2001)[1]	VRB-25	056 56 ft (17 m)
Lubec Channel Light		Lubec	44.8421°N 66.9766°W / 44.8421; -66.9766 (Lubec Channel Light)	1890	1939	Active	155mm	053 53 ft (16 m)
Machias Seal Island		Washington County, Maine (mouth of Bay of Fundy)	44.5018°N 67.1018°W / 44.5018; -67.1018 (Machias Seal Island Light)	1832 (Former) 1914 (Current)	1995	Active	Unknown	65 ft (19.8 m) 65 ft (20 m)
Marshall Point Light		Port Clyde	43.9174°N 69.2613°W / 43.9174; -69.2613 (Marshall Point Light)	1832 (Former) 1858 (Current)	1980	Active	300mm	030 30 ft (9.1 m)
Matinicus Rock Light		Matinicus Isle	43.7835°N 68.8550°W / 43.7835; -68.8550 (Matinicus Rock Light)	1827 (Former) 1846 (Current towers)	1983	1924 (North tower) Active (South tower)	VRB-25	090 90 ft (27 m)
Monhegan Island Light		Monhegan (Monhegan Island)	43.7648°N 69.3158°W / 43.7648; -69.3158 (Monhegan Island Light)	1824 (Former) 1850 (Current)	1959	Active	VRB-25	178 178 ft (54 m)
Moose Peak Light		Mistake Island	44.4746°N 67.5320°W / 44.4746; -67.5320 (Moose Peak Light)	1827 (Former) 1851 (Current)	1972	Active	DCB-24	072 72 ft (22 m)
Mount Desert Light		Mount Desert Rock (Near Mount Desert Island)	43.9686°N 68.1283°W / 43.9686; -68.1283 (Mount Desert Light)	1830 (Former) 1847 (Current)	1977	Active	VRB-25	075 75 ft (23 m)
Narraguagus Light		Narraguagus Bay	44.456°N 67.8312°W / 44.456; -67.8312 (Narraguagus Light)[20]	1853	Never	1934	None	054 54 ft (16 m)[21]
Nash Island Light		Pleasant Bay	44.4643°N 67.7473°W / 44.4643; -67.7473 (Nash Island Light)[22]	1838 (Former) 1874 (Current)	1958	1982	None	051 51 ft (16 m)[23]
Owls Head Light		Owls Head (Penobscot Bay)	44.0922°N 69.0440°W / 44.0922; -69.0440 (Owls Head Light)	1825	1989	Active	Fourth-order Fresnel	100 100 ft (30 m)
Pemaquid Point Light		Bristol	43.8368°N 69.5058°W / 43.8368; -69.5058 (Pemaquid Point Light)	1827 (Former) 1857 (Current)	1934	Active	Fourth-order Fresnel	079 79 ft (24 m)
Perkins Island Light		Georgetown (Perkins Island)	43.7868°N 69.7852°W / 43.7868; -69.7852 (Perkins Island Light)	1898	1959	Active	250mm	041 41 ft (12 m)
Petit Manan Light		Milbridge (Petit Island)	44.3676°N 67.8644°W / 44.3676; -67.8644 (Petit Manan Light)	1817 (Former) 1855 (Current)	1972	Active	VRB-25	123 123 ft (37 m)
Pond Island Light		Kennebec River	43.7400°N 69.7703°W / 43.7400; -69.7703 (Pond Island Light)	1821 (Former) 1855 (Current)	1963	Active	250mm	052 52 ft (16 m)
Portland Breakwater Light		South Portland	43.6555°N 70.2349°W / 43.6555; -70.2349 (Portland Breakwater Light)	1855 (Former) 1875 (Current)	1934	Active (Inactive: 1942–2002)	Unknown	030 30 ft (9.1 m)
Portland Head Light		Cape Elizabeth (Casco Bay)	43.6231°N 70.2079°W / 43.6231; -70.2079 (Portland Head Light)	1791	1989	Active	DCB-224	101 101 ft (31 m)
Prospect Harbor Point Light		Gouldsboro (Prospect Harbor)	44.4034°N 68.0130°W / 44.4034; -68.0130 (Prospect Harbor Point Light)	1850 (Former) 1891 (Current)	1951	Active	Optic	042 42 ft (13 m)
Pumpkin Island Light		Deer Isle (Pumpkin Island)	44.3092°N 68.7428°W / 44.3092; -68.7428 (Pumpkin Island Light)[24]	1854	Never	1933	None	Unknown
Ram Island Ledge Light		Cape Elizabeth (Casco Bay)	43.6315°N 70.1874°W / 43.6315; -70.1874 (Ram Island Ledge Light)	1905	1959	Active	Third-order Fresnel	077 77 ft (23 m)
Ram Island Light		Boothbay Harbor	43.8038°N 69.5992°W / 43.8038; -69.5992 (Ram Island Light)	1883	1965	Active	Unknown	036 36 ft (11 m)
Rockland Harbor Breakwater Light		Rockland	44.1040°N 69.0775°W / 44.1040; -69.0775 (Rockland Harbor Breakwater Light)	1827 (Former) 1902 (Current)	1964	Active	VRB-25	039 39 ft (12 m)
Saddleback Ledge Light		Saddleback Ledge (Penobscot Bay)	44.0144°N 68.7264°W / 44.0144; -68.7264 (Saddleback Ledge Light)	1839	1954	Active	300mm	054 54 ft (16 m)
Saint Croix River Light		St. Croix River	45.1282°N 67.1338°W / 45.1282; -67.1338 (Saint Croix River Light)	1857 (Former) 1976 (Current)	1976	Active	Unknown	077 77 ft (23 m)[25]
Seguin Light		Georgetown	43.7075°N 69.7580°W / 43.7075; -69.7580 (Seguin Light)	1795 (Former) 1857 (Current)	1985	2019 (Temporary)[26]	First-order Fresnel	180 180 ft (55 m)
Spring Point Ledge Light		South Portland	43.6521°N 70.2239°W / 43.6521; -70.2239 (Spring Point Ledge Light)	1897	1934	Active	Fifth-order Fresnel	054 54 ft (16 m)
Squirrel Point Light		Arrowsic (Arrowsic Island)	43.8165°N 69.8024°W / 43.8165; -69.8024 (Squirrel Point Light)	1898	1982	Active	250mm	025 25 ft (7.6 m)
Tenants Harbor Light		St. George (Southern Island)	43.9611°N 69.1848°W / 43.9611; -69.1848 (Tenants Harbor Light)[27]	1857	Never	1933	None	027 27 ft (8.2 m)[28]
Two Bush Island Light		Two Bush Island (Penobscot Bay)	43.9642°N 69.0739°W / 43.9642; -69.0739 (Two Bush Island Light)	1897	1964	Active	VRB-25	065 65 ft (20 m)
West Quoddy Head Light		Lubec	44.8151°N 66.9507°W / 44.8151; -66.9507 (West Quoddy Head Light)	1808 (Former) 1858 (Current)	1988	Active	Third-order Fresnel	083 83 ft (25 m)
Whaleback Light		Kittery (Piscataqua River)	43.0588°N 70.6963°W / 43.0588; -70.6963 (Whaleback Light)	1820 (Former) 1872 (Current)	1963	Active	VLB-44	059 59 ft (18 m)
Whitehead Light		St. George (Whitehead Island)	43.9787°N 69.1243°W / 43.9787; -69.1243 (Whitehead Light)	1807 (Former) 1857 (Current)	1982	Active	300mm	075 75 ft (23 m)
Whitlocks Mill Light		St. Croix River	45.1626°N 67.2274°W / 45.1626; -67.2274 (Whitlocks Mill Light)	1892 (Former) 1910 (Current)	1969	Active	VLB-44	032 32 ft (9.8 m)
Winter Harbor Light		Winter Harbor	44.3614°N 68.0876°W / 44.3614; -68.0876 (Winter Harbor Light)[29]	1856	Never	1933	None	037 37 ft (11 m)[29]
Wood Island Light		Biddeford (Biddeford Pool)	43.4569°N 70.3291°W / 43.4569; -70.3291 (Wood Island Light)	1808 (Former) 1858 (Current)	1986	Active	VLB-44	071 71 ft (22 m)

References

1. "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: Maine". United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on 2017-05-01.
2. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the United States: Southern Maine". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
3. "Portland Head Light". Lighthouse Friends.
4. "Whitlocks Mill Light". LighthouseFriends.
5. "West Quoddy Head Light: History". Jeremy D'Entremont. 11 October 2023. Archived from the original on October 2, 1999.
6. "Boon Island Light: History". Jeremy D'Entremont. 11 October 2023. Archived from the original on February 29, 2000.
7. "Maine Lights Program: Overview and Conclusions" (PDF). Island Institute. January 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-25. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
8. "Legendary Lighthouses: Maine Lights Program". PBS. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
9. "Tenants Harbor Light: History". Jeremy D'Entremont. 11 October 2023. Archived from the original on September 29, 2000.
10. Light List, Volume I, Atlantic Coast, St. Croix River, Maine to Shrewsbury River, New Jersey (PDF). Light List. United States Coast Guard. 2012.
11. "Avery Rock Light". Jeremy D'Entremont. 11 October 2023. Archived from the original on April 17, 1999.
12. Taken from NOAA chart 13316
13. estimated from Google Maps
14. "Crabtree Ledge Light". Jeremy D'Entremont. 11 October 2023. Archived from the original on April 29, 2001.
15. "Crabtree Ledge Light: History". Jeremy D'Entremont. 11 October 2023. Archived from the original on September 29, 2000.
16. "Dice Head Light: History". Jeremy D'Entremont. 11 October 2023. Archived from the original on October 24, 2000.
17. "Grindel Point Light". LighthouseFriends.
18. "Hendricks Head Light". LighthouseFriends.
19. "Indian Island Light". LighthouseFriends.
20. "Narraguagus (Pond Island) Light". Lighthouse Friends.
21. "Narraguagus (Pond Island) Light: History". Jeremy D'Entremont. 11 October 2023. Archived from the original on March 5, 2001.
22. "Nash Island Light". Lighthouse Friends.
23. "Nash Island Light". Jeremy D'Entremont. 11 October 2023. Archived from the original on October 18, 2000.
24. "Pumpkin Island Light". Lighthouse Friends.
25. "St. Croix River Light". Jeremy D'Entremont. 11 October 2023. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013.
26. "2020 Island Solar Powered now". 11 May 2019.
27. "Tenants Harbor, ME". LighthouseFriends.
28. "Tenants Harbor Light". Jeremy D'Entremont. 11 October 2023. Archived from the original on April 13, 2000.
29. "Winter Harbor, ME". Lighthouse Friends.