Pemaquid Point Lighthouse
Bristol, Maine
Built in 1827
Location:
Guarding the entrance to Muscongus Bay and John Bay, at Pemaquid Point at the end of Route 130. Grounds and lighthouse museum are open to the public.
Latitude: 43° 50' 12" N
Longitude: 69° 30' 21" W
Historic Stories:
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse was built to accommodate the increasing marine trade, fishing, and the shipping of lumber within mid-coast Maine.
| Built in 1827, then rebuilt in 1857. Its location sits atop a unique set of geological rock formations that wreaked havoc for many mariners in bad weather. |
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By the late 1800s, Pemaquid Point was a desirable location for many keepers and their families, as it was easily accessible by land and allowed keepers to raise animals and crops. Pemaquid Point was not, however, easy to reach by water. For those that had to access the lighthouse by water, it was not a popular destination from the rock formations along the shore. Lighthouse tenders were forced to anchor offshore while attempting to move supplies over these treacherous rocks in front of the lighthouse and grounds.
Keeper Joseph Lawler and his wife, Sophronia, welcomed a baby girl in 1868; Susie Lawler was the only child ever born at the lighthouse. Marcus A. Hanna, who was best known for his most courageous rescue at Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse, succeeded Lawler in 1869 and stayed at Pemaquid until 1873.
Shipwrecks would sometimes still occur on the dangerous rocks by Pemaquid. The Annie F. Collins was wrecked on May 4, 1891 and the Alice P. Higgins was wrecked on September 18, 1893. The three-man crew aboard the Annie F. Collins were lost, those aboard the Alice P. Higgins made it to shore by boat, landing at Pemaquid Light. Both vessels were carrying paving stone, and both were bound for New York.
Strange Coincidence
In a violent storm on September 16, 1903, the fishing schooner George F. Edmunds smashed against the rocks, drowning Captain Willard Poole and thirteen of his crewmates. Only two of the crew were rescued. William P. Sawyer, of Pemaquid Point talked to the two survivors of the George F. Edmunds and wrote down their story. Forty-two years later on the anniversary of the shipwreck in 1945, Sawyer's body was found near the Pemaquid Lighthouse.
A smaller fishing vessel, the Sadie and Lillie was also destroyed there and only two people survived.
For more details on this story, select the "Strange Coincidence" Blog link at the top of this page to be directed to my Lighthouse Stories section.
Keeper Leroy Elwell rescued three people from a capsized sailboat on August 6, 1930, and later received a commendation for his heroism. It was also during Elwell’s tenure that the lighthouse was one of the first in Maine to be automated in 1934.
The keeper’s quarters was converted to the Fisherman’s Museum in 1972 and is still in use today.
As the lighthouse tower was falling into much needed restoration, funds were finally raised and restoration and repair of the tower was completed in 2007.
The lighthouse on Maine's commemorative state quarter is Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. Also included on the quarter are Maine's state tree, the White Pine, and the three-masted schooner Victory Chimes, which has recently been retired.
Places to Visit Nearby:
In Damariscotta and Newcastle, you’ll find nineteenth century storefronts filled with shops, restaurants and galleries. Head down Route 129 from Route 1, to Route 130, with plenty of artist’s galleries along the way.
The town of Bristol lies on a tip of land on the end of a long peninsula with its natural surroundings for all to enjoy.
When you reach the end of the peninsula, you’ll find Pemaquid Point Lighthouse.
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This location provides some of the most spectacular scenery in Maine, with its unique rocky shoreline to explore. |
On the lighthouse grounds, you can climb all around these unique rock formations that jut out to the sea (be wary of high tide with these rocks) or, sit and picnic while enjoying the splendor of the surf crashing against the rocks.
| Beautiful sunrises await those who want to explore the area in the early dawn. |  |
On the lighthouse grounds, you can climb all around these unique rock formations that jut out to the sea. The Fisherman's Museum, which is part of Pemaquid's adjoining buildings is open during the summer months.
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Take a tour to climb the tower for some great views and observe the beacon's original fourth order Fresnel lens. |
A one-bedroom apartment in the keeper's house is available for weekly vacation rentals. The Fisherman's Museum, part of Pemaquid's keeper's buildings is open during the summer months. There is a restaurant to relax at and also a beach area.
| A few miles away there is Colonial Pemaquid to explore, where visitors will find Fort William Henry. |  |
This was was once the largest fort in New England, built in the late 1600s. There is also the Pemaquid Art Gallery, and other attractions around the area. Nearby, explore Pemaquid Beach, a quarter-mile jewel of pristine white sand.
Off Route 130 in New Harbor, Hardy Boat Cruises provides ferry service and tours out to Monhegan Island, along with puffin tours, seal watching, and coastal tours in the fall. They also provide an educational history cruise out to Pemaquid Point Lighthouse and Fort William Henry.
Driving Directions
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From the Highway US Route 1 Business Route in Damariscotta turn south on Highway 129 and drive for just under three miles to the intersection of Highways 129 and 130.
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Take Highway 130 south for about 12 miles to Pemaquid Point where you will see the lighthouse by a large parking lot where you can explore the grounds and the lighthouse museum.
Contact Info:
Fisherman’s Museum
New Harbor, ME 04554
Phone: (207) 677-2494
Friends of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse
PO Box 367
Damariscotta, ME 04543-0367
Phone (207) 677-3499 for special off-hour tours
Phone (207)677-2100 for rentals or reservations .
Local Boat Tours
Boat tours mentioned below offer many types of cruises. While some may offer specific lighthouse cruises that pass by Pemaquid Point Lighthouse , some may pass by the lighthouse as part of charters, narrated wildlife and historic tours, whale watching adventures, fishing tours, and other types of excursions.
Cap'n Fish's Whale Watch and Scenic Nature Cruises
Includes lighthouses along the Kennebec River and Boothbay Harbor.
Boothbay Harbor, Maine
(207)-633-3244
(207)-633-2626
Or toll free 1-800-636-3244
Balmy Days Cruises
Offers special lighthouse tours.
Pier 8
42 Commercial St.
Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538
(207) 633-2284 or
(800) 298-2284
info@balmydayscruises.com
Hardy Boat Cruises
Special lighthouse cruises available around Pemaquid Point lighthouse, and out to Monhegan Island lighthouse.
PO Box 326
New harbor, Maine 04554
1-800-2-PUFFIN
(207) 677-2026
New Book Just Published Summer 2023!
The Rise and Demise of the Largest Sailing Ships:
Stories of the Six and Seven-Masted
Coal Schooners of New England
Available in paperback, hard cover, and as an eBook for all devices.
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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 book, balanced with plenty of color and vintage images, showcases the historical accounts that followed these mighty ships, including competitions, accidents, battling destructive storms, acts of heroism, and their final voyages. |
My 300-page book (with over 360 images), Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions of Northern New England: New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont, provides human interest stories from each of the 76 lighthouses, along with plenty of coastal attractions and tours near each beacon, and contact info to plan your special vacation. In the haunted lighthouses section of the book, you'll also find a story about a haunting at the keeper's house at Pemeaquid. Look inside! |
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