Perhaps nothing symbolizes the rocky Maine coast as well as a lighthouse. When the U.S. Mint was deciding on an image to represent Maine on its series of commemorative state quarters, they chose a lighthouse. Nearly every souvenir shop in the state sells a series of picture post cards featuring one of the iconic Maine lighthouses.
If you want to take some pictures of your own that are worthy of a post card, Maine’s lighthouses are just about the perfect subject matter. As you head Down East along the coast, here are the best Maine lighthouses to photograph.
Cape Neddick/Nubble Light – York Beach
The Cape Neddick lighthouse sits on a small rocky island – a “nubble,” as those native to Maine would call it. The little island is so close to shore that it is possible – though treacherous under certain conditions – to wade over to it at low tide. The red-painted roof and outbuildings match the 41-foot beacon’s red light, which can be seen up to 13 miles offshore. It is the contrast of these red highlights, set against the lighthouse’s green lawn and the blue sky, that make for a great photograph.
Portland Head Light – Cape Elizabeth
Located in Ft. Williams State Park, this is probably the most famous Maine lighthouse, and definitely the most frequently photographed. The lighthouse is not located in the city of Portland itself. The name comes from the geographic outcropping at the head of Portland harbor on which the lighthouse was built. It is the oldest lighthouse in Maine. Its construction was paid for by Congress at the behest of George Washington in 1789. The poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow would frequently walk here from his nearby home. It was the inspiration for his poem, “The Lighthouse,” and a marker notes the rock on which he is believed to have written the verse. A short walk across the parking lot affords photographers the iconic view that has graced countless calendars.
Cape Elizabeth Light – Cape Elizabeth
As you would expect, there are a pair of lighthouses here that gave Two Lights State Park its name. The easternmost of the pair of lighthouses was immortalized in a series of famous paintings by Edward Hopper, including the familiar scene that now hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Access is not what it was in Hopper’s day, however. The grounds of the eastern lighthouse are not open to the public but, if you can find a rare parking spot, it can be photographed from the end of Two Lights Road. The western lighthouse now sits on private property in the front yard of a home.
Pemaquid Point Light – Bristol
With its rock walls and white picket fence, the Pemaquid lighthouse has long been a favorite of photographers. Happily, it is also one of the most accessible of Maine’s lighthouses. In the summer, visitors can climb the tower in good weather and even rent a one-bedroom apartment in the keeper’s house. For dramatic photos, climb down the granite rocks toward the surf and shoot upward toward the lighthouse. The craggy rock formations make a great feature for the foreground of your shot.
Owl’s Head Light – Owl’s Head
At just 31 feet, this is one of the shorter lighthouses in Maine. But the Owl’s Head Light sits high above the keeper’s house, atop a long series of wooden stairs, making for unique composition opportunities for photographs. While the lighthouse itself is closed to the public, the grounds are part of Owl’s Head Light State Park and provide plenty of great spots for taking photographs and enjoying a picnic.
West Quoddy Light – Lubec
Located as far east as you can drive and still be in America, the West Quoddy lighthouse guards the Quoddy Narrows waterway between the United States and Canada. Originally commissioned by Thomas Jefferson, the lighthouse sports distinctive red-and-white horizontal stripe that make for colorful photographs. A favorite perspective is from a field to the north side of the lighthouse, from which your photograph can include the lighthouse, the rocky shore and a rustic white fence in the green meadow.
