Coast to Coast with Lighthouses

“Lighthouses, from the earliest times, have fascinated and intrigued members of the human race. To almost every man and woman there is something about a lighted beacon which suggests hope and trust and appeals to the better instincts of all mankind. Standing off by itself in the ocean, a lighthouse symbolizes the eternal vigilance of its keeper, who must be alert and watchful at all times – in sunshine or darkness, in fog or stormy weather.” – Edward Rowe Snow

Maine has 65 historic lighthouses still standing along nearly 5,000 miles of rugged coastline (although only 230 miles as the crow flies). This means that lighthouses are as emblematic of summertime in Maine as fresh seafood.  We agree, lobster and lighthouses are two of our favorite features in Maine!

Maine’s lighthouses have a long and fascinating history as guardians of its  rugged and unforgiving coastline. For centuries, these sentinels have stood strong against raging storms, remaining vigilant through the black of night and impenetrable fog and garnering the admiration of countless thousands of mariners for their lifesaving powers.

Owl's Head Lighthouse is located inside Owl's Head State Park near Rockland Harbor. The lighthouse was completed in 1825 and the old living quarters are now the official headquarters for the American Lighthouse Foundation. 

We were fortunate to visit when a couple of docent volunteers from the Foundation let us into the Lighthouse - and what a view as it sits majestically atop an 80-foot bluff overlooking Penobscot Bay. Once atop the lighthouse, visitors have the chance to admire the gorgeous fourth order Fresnel lens that dates back to 1856 while enjoying panoramic views of the bay.

The Fresnel lens was developed by Augustin-Jean Fresnel, a French physicist. The complex design of the lens bends light in such a way that the glow of an old oil lantern becomes a single focused beam of light that can be seen for great distances.  And... we can now claim to have visited lighthouses with Fresnel lenses coast to coast, with our first visit in West Seattle at the Alki Point Light - with an actual Coast Guard man as our tour guide!

PS: Should you decide to visit Owl's Head, make sure to stop by one of the most quaint post offices you will ever visit (on your way up to the State Park)  - they even have planted flowers in the lobby!