Maine Lighthouses: Beacons From the Past

Before the advent of radar, sonar and satellite guided GPS devices, a captain’s best friend (next to the occasional parrot or trusty first mate) were lighthouses. These dramatic beacons provided guidance through weather both fair and fowl with powerful lights and booming foghorns. There are over 60 lighthouses in Maine from the Bold Coast to Kittery, and every one has a unique history … and its own tale to tell.  Some of the most well-known and recognizable lighthouses include the Portland Head Light (Maine’s oldest), Cape Neddick (“most photographed”) and Quoddy Head; the “easternmost” lighthouse in the United States. Many of the most famous Maine lighthouses are located along the scenic rocky coast and are easily reachable by automobile – and locatable using your car’s GPS! Next time you visit Maine, be sure to put visiting a lighthouse at the top of your vacation to-do list. And when you are standing there looking out to sea, listen very carefully and you may just hear the ancient cries of joy from sailors saved by these mighty sentinels of safety many years ago