L = Lighthouses
Lighthouses are one of the most iconic symbols of Maine. Here are some free online resources to help you explore these special places.
Guides
While there is a seemingly endless number of online guides, these I’ve selected are mobile-friendly.
The Maine Tourism page dedicated to lighthouses does a lovely job displaying the beauty of this aspect of our state. You’ll easily be drawn into planning a trip.
The Lighthouse Friends site is one of the most user friendly. It gives an all-on-one-page option to filter for a variety of categories (i.e. easy access, fee, private, etc.). The project is the work of Kraig Anderson who has visited every lighthouse in the United States!
Let’s face it: with so many options, it isn’t easy to choose which lighthouse to visit. In September 2019, Down East Magazine created a list of Every Maine Lighthouse Ranked…all 65 of them! Of course, this is based on their opinion, but might help you make a decision.
Map
New England Lighthouses has a virtual guide to our Maine beacons. It provides photos, basic information, and an integrated map.
Live Webcams
If you’re unable to travel to a lighthouse right away, you can at least take a peek at (or from) one through a live webcam. Not even close to the real thing, but better than nothing!
Nubble Light, York
Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth
Wood Island, Old Orchard Beach
Technical
The Navigation Center for the United States Coast Guard publishes Light Lists which have all the “nitty gritty” details you could ever need.
top left: Rockland Breakwater; top right: Bass Harbor; bottom: Spring Point
The video below is one of the best compilations of Maine lighthouses I’ve ever seen. Get the view from above via these drone recordings. It’s stunning!
This post is part of my A to Z Challenge Series with the overall theme, “This Maine Life.” I am covering a Maine-related topic with a different letter of the alphabet every day except Sundays throughout the month of April 2020.
