Maine Lighthouses
From
Rockland To Camden,
and Lake Cobbosseecontee
Owls Head,
Rockland, Rockport, and Camden
Regional Blog Stories | ||
Lighthouses established in the Rockland and Camden areas were used to guide many fishing vessels, and increasing traffic from the mining of lime for construction in nearby Rockland and Thomaston between numerous dangerous rocky ledges and shoreline. Other industries, in addition to fishing, involved granite quarrying, steamship transportation and ice harvesting, making Rockland Harbor as one of the busiest places on the Maine coast. There was also increasing tourism in the affluent area around Camden. Over the years, there were many violent storms in the area, resulting in a multitude of shipwrecks, which in turn caused an abundance of petitions for lighthouses to be established.
Maine’s Coastal Lighthouses
From Rockland
Through Camden
You Can Drive or Hike To
Click any lighthouse image or link below to find out information about each lighthouse, including historical stories, directions, tours, photos, and nearby attractions.
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Maine’s Coastal Lighthouses
From Rockland
Through Camden
Best Viewed by Boat
Click any lighthouse image or link below to find out information about each lighthouse, including historical stories, directions, tours, photos, and nearby attractions.
Ladies Delight: Inland Lighthouse
on Lake Cobbosseecontee, South of Augusta
Places to Visit Nearby:
Maine’s Coastal
Rockland through Camden Area
Penobscot Bay extends out forty miles long and fifteen miles wide, and contains more than 200 islands. This natural windy shelter provides a unique opportunity for sailing adventures and is why the ports of Rockland, Rockport, and Camden have the highest concentration of windjammers or tall ships for visitors to sail upon in the country. Most of these ships are docked in Camden and are one of the major attractions.
| These vessels offer a unique sailing experience along Penobscot Bay and its many islands aboard historic schooners, many using only their sails for power, as they did over a hundred years ago. |  |
These ships will take you out to neighboring islands, around the harbor, or cruise up and down Maine’s coast. Some head south to warmer climates in the winter and visitors can book tours for these adventures as well.
In this area you’ll find lots of festivals involving windjammers, like Schooner Gam, Windjammer Days, the Great Schooner Race, Maine Windjammer Parade, and the Camden Windjammer Festival in September.
On the way towards Rockland, you can enjoy picnicking at Owls Head Light State Park.
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Walk along some of the trails along the cliffs and shoreline, and you can walk up to the lighthouse as well. |
Visit the Owls Head Transportation Museum showcasing antique autos and planes, or explore the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland.
| In Rockland,the Maine Lighthouse Museum contains one of the largest collections of Fresnel lenses in the country. | 
Fresnel Lenses at |
There are plenty of tour boats and windjammer cruises that will take you out to neighboring islands, around the harbor, or cruise up and down the coast. Although some provide specific lighthouse cruises, all pass by lighthouses depending on wind and weather conditions.
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In Rockland, take a walk along the nearly 1-mile breakwater out to Rockland Breakwater lighthouse. |
In Camden, attend the Camden Opera House. A few miles up US Route 1, you'll find Camden Hills State Park with over 5,000 picturesque acres for hiking, picnicking, and camping. Dive or hike up Mount Battie to enjoy great views of Camden harbor below.
| Camden is a beautiful affluent tourist town with its specialty shops and restaurants, and its scenic harbor, which boasts as being the yacht capital of the world. |  |
Indeed, people from all over the world come here by land and sea.
| You can even take a class and go kayaking in the harbor, exploring the yachts from the water view. | 
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Local Boat Tours:
Rockland through Camden Lighthouses
Boat tours and ferries mentioned below may offer many types of cruises. While some may offer specific lighthouse cruises, some will pass by specific lighthouses as part of charters, narrated wildlife and historic tours, ferrying passengers, fishing tours and other types of excursions.
Maine State Ferry Service
Ferry to Matinicus Island, Vinalhaven, and Northhaven. Ferry passes by Owl's Head Lighthouse and Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse out of Rockland Harbor.
P.O. Box 645
517A Main Street
Rockland, Maine 04841-0645
Phone:. (207) 596-2202
1-800-491-4883
Camden Harbor Cruises
Provides 1-hour Lighthouse Lobster Tour from Camden, and a 3-hour Sunday Lighthouse Cruise aboard a classic wooden motor vessel, the Lively Lady.
9 Brandy Brook Road, Camden, ME 04843
Phone: (207) 236-6672
Lighthouses: Curtis Island, Indian Head, Owls Head, Browns Head, Rockland Breakwater
Matinicus Excursions
Specializing in special trips involving bird watching, seals, and other marine life to get great views of Matinicus Rock Light from the boat. The boat is chartered as a water taxi from the mainland at Rockland, to Matinicus Island, and to Matinicus Rock Light, five miles away from Matinicus Island. They also offer service to and from Criehaven Island.
Matinicus Excursions
PO BOx 195
Matinicus, Maine 04851
Phone: (207) 691-9030 (cell phone with voice mail)
Email: info@matinicusexcursions.com
Departure From Rockland
Journey's End Marina
120 Tillson Avenue
Rockland, Maine
Lighthouses: Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse and Matinicus Rock Lighthouse
Lake Cobbosseecontee:
Ladies Delight Lighthouse
This is the only inland lighthouse in Maine on Lake Cobbosseecontee. You'd have to break away from the coastline, but the area is scenic and restful.
Cobbosseecontee Lake Association
May provide a special lighthouse tour for a small group if requested. It depends on scheduling and availability as they are a volunteer organzation. However, they sponsor lots of events that promote preservation and education of Lake Cobbosseecontee and the lighthouse.
P.O. Box 17
Manchester, ME 04351
E-Mail: lakecobb1@gmail.com
Lakeside Lodge and Marina
Here, there are no tours but you can rent various boats for fishing or relaxing on the lake. Free canoes and kayaks are provided for guests who stay overnight. It's about a mile of easy lake paddling to the lighthouse. You can also bring your own boat and use the public boat launch about 100 yards away from the motel off Turtle Run Road.
Phone: (207) 395–6741 Toll Free: 1 800–532–6892
Email: info@lakesidelodging.com
Windjammer Cruises
This region has the heaviest concentration of windjammer schooners in the country. All of these special vessels pass by lighthouses on many of their cruises. Some offer special lighthouse tours. Lighthouse listings are not included here as routes are dependent on wind and weather. For information on Schooner windjamming cruises try the Penobscot Bay Chamber or the Maine Windjammer Association for starters. The Maine Windjammer Festival with many tall ships occurs annually around the end of June. Weather is always a major factor in New England, especially on sailing excursions.
Schooner Lewis R. French
Built in 1871, this is Maine's oldest active schooner offering 3, 4, and 6-day sailing vacations along Maine’s coast. They have specific lighthouse cruises where visitors can view between 15 and 25 lighthouses. These cruises include anchoring near several island lighthouses, and allowing guests to have the chance to hike to some of these beacons. Tickets to the Maine Lighthouse Museum are also provided.
P.O. Box 992,
Camden ME 04843
Phone: 1-800-469-4635
E-mail: captain@schoonerfrench.com
Schooner Heron
Thie 65-foot schooner provides 3 trips each day out of Rockport Harbor including Indian Island Light and Eco Tour.
111 Pascal Avenue, Rockport, ME 04856
Phone: (207) 236-8605
E-mail: heron@midcoast.com
Schooner Angelique
Schooner Angelique offers lighthouse cruises in July and August, and has cruises that explore the Acadia region.
P.O. Box 736,
Camden, Maine 04843-0736
Phone: (800) 282-9989
Email: windjam@sailangelique.com
Schooner J. & E. Riggin
Built in 1927, this 120-foot two-masted schooner has special 3 and 4 day “Lighthouses and Lobsters” cruises.
136 Holmes Street, Rockland, ME 04841
Phone: (800) 869-0604
Schooner American Eagle
Sails on cruises of varying lengths, from two to nine days which include lighthouses and wildlife as part of every trip.
P.O. Box 482, 11 Front Street, Rockland, ME 04841
Phone: (207) 594-8007 or (800) 648-4544
Schooner Stephen Taber
Classic 140-year old schooner sails on one and multiple day cruises which include a “Lighthouse and Photography Cruise” featuring photography instruction with a local artist.
Windjammer Wharf
P.O. Box 1050, Rockland, ME 04841
Phone: (207) 594-4723 or (800) 999-7352
Maine Windjammer Cruises
Completely restored 19th century schooners Grace Bailey and Mercentile for weekly and weekend cruises along the Maine coast and Penobscot Bay.
P.O. Box 617 Camden, ME 04843
Phone: (207) 236-2938 or (800) 736-7981
Schooner Olad and Cutter Owl
The schooner Olad provides daily 2-hour, half day, full day sails, and sunset sails, along with various event sails.
P.O. Box 432 Camden, ME 04843
Phone: (207) 236-2323
Schooner Mary Day
Tours include 4-day lighthouse cruises and has heat in every cabin.
10 Atlantic Ave, P.O. Box 798, Camden, ME 04843
Phone: (800) 992-2218
Schooner Surprise
This racing schooner offers two-hour windjammer cruises around Camden Harbor and Penobscot Bay.
P.O. Box H, Camden, ME 04843
Phone: 207-236-4687
Schooner Appledore
This wooden 86-foot schooner cruises out of Camden into Penobscot Bay at least three times a day, seven days a week. Sails include wildlife, sunset, and local lighthouses.
3 Lily Pond Drive, Camden, ME 04843
Phone: (207) 236-8353
Schooner Heritage
The 145-foot Heritage offers 3-day to 6-day sails without a specific itinerary, but always passes by lighthouses and its captains are maritime historians.
P.O. Box 482, 5 Achorn Street, Rockland, ME 04841
Phone: (207) 594-8007 or (800) 648-4544
Schooner Grace Bailey
This completely restored 19th century schooner measures 123 feet in overall length. Three to six-day sails for various events, including participating in schooner races or regattas, lots of music, and sometimes island stopovers.
P.O. Box 1401, Rockland, ME 04841
Phone: (207) 691-9521
Email: info@sailgracebailey.com
Scenic Flights Over Midcoast Maine
Penobscot Island Air
Chartering a variety of lighthouse viewing flights.
Knox County Regional Airport
Owls Head ME 04854
Phone: (207) 596-7500
Cellular: (207) 542-4944
Fax: (207) 596-6870
info@penobscotislandair.net
Books to Explore
Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions of Northern New England: The 300-page resource provides human interest stories from each of the 76 lighthouses in northern New England, along with the coastal attractions and tours near each beacon, and contact info to plan your special trips. You'll find over 360 images inside as well. Look inside! |
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Available in paperback, hardcover, and as an eBook for all devices.
Enjoy a 10% discount on the hardcover version. Printed and distributed globally by IngramSpark. |
The Rise and Demise of the Largest Sailing Ships: In the early 1900s, New England shipbuilders constructed the world’s largest sailing ships amid social and political reforms. These giants of sail were the ten original six-masted coal schooners and one colossal seven-masted vessel, built to carry massive quantities of coal and building supplies, and measured longer than a football field! This self-published book, balanced with plenty of color and vintage images, showcases the historical accounts that followed these mighty ships. The first six-masted sailing ship, the George W. Wells, was built in Camden, Maine. |
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New England Lighthouses: Famous Shipwrecks, Rescues & Other Tales This image-rich book contains over 50 stories of famous shipwrecks and rescues around New England lighthouses, and also tales of hauntings. There are more details and imagery provided in the story of Spot rescuing the mailboat in a snowstorm and about the "frozen lovers" at Owls Head Lighthouse. |
You'll find this book and my lighthouse tourism books from the publisher Schiffer Books.