First Ever Open Lighthouse Day in Maine Draws Closer

On Saturday, September 12, 2009 the nation’s first ever Open Lighthouse Day will be held in Maine - and you're invited.

It is fitting the event is being held in Maine as its collection of 60 lighthouses that dot the coastline are considered one of the prime heritages of the nation.

There is barely a lighthouse calendar printed in the world that doesn’t include one of the classics from the Maine coastline.

The Maine coast along with Cape Cod in Massachusetts was once a graveyard for ships with its rocky coastline and pea soup foggy days. The lighthouses along the Maine coast were beacons for ships warning of impending danger and saved many lives during the days before radar and the GPS systems of today.

Technology may have replaced these lighthouses as beacons of warning but the romance and drama of their past remains, and on September 12th many of Maine’s collection of lighthouses will be open to the public.

In the original press release in June it was expressed that over 50 lighthouses would be open but as of today the count is at 25 – more may be added so keep checking. You can find the official list along with more details about the day at http://www.lighthouseday.com

The first lighthouse in Maine erected in 1791 was Portland Head Light and the Maine collection open also includes: West Quoddy Head Light - the most easterly located lighthouse in the nation, Bass Harbor Head Light in Downeast and Acadia Region, and Doubling Point Light, Pemaquid Point Light, and Monhegan Light in the Midcoast region, and Goat and Wood Island along the southern beach area.

This is a rare opportunity to learn about the rich history of these lighthouses in Maine and understand all about the tradition of lighthouse keepers and the fascinating history of these lights and keepers that have survived the horrific storms in the region.

Many of Maine’s lighthouses are no longer owned and managed by the U.S. Coast Guard as ownership was transferred to organizations such as the American Lighthouse Foundation and other private owners such as Acadia National Park.

The Open Lighthouse Day has been implemented through the assistance and support of the U.S. Coast Guard, Maine Office of Tourism and the American Lighthouse Foundation, and their hard work provides the chance for lighthouse lovers and their families to spend a day visiting places not normally open to the public anymore.

For more ideas and suggestions on things in the state visit our special Maine Vacations section at our web site.


Cliff Calderwood
Executive Director
New England Vacation Guide