Pemaquid Point Lighthouse
Bristol, Maine
Built in 1827
Location:
Guarding the entrance to Muscongus Bay and Johns Bay, at Pemaquid Point at the end of Route 130. Grounds, Fisherman's Museum (keeper's building), and the tower, 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.
| The lighthouse was initially built in 1827, but undue weathering was noticed soon thereafter in the masonry. Turns out the mason used sea water for his mortar, causing the structure to rapidly deteriorate. |
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In 1835, the light was disassembled and rebuilt with strict instructions in the new contract to use only fresh water for the masonry to maintain the tower's endurance from the many storms that frequented the coast. A keeper's house was added in 1837, and later a fourth order Fresnel lens was installed in the tower in 1856.
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 due to the dangerous 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 crew mates. Only two of the crew were rescued. A smaller fishing vessel, the Sadie and Lillie was also destroyed there during the same storm and only two people survived.
William P. Sawyer, a young man in his twenties, who vacationed at Pemaquid Point, talked to the two survivors of the George F. Edmunds and published their story. Forty-two years later, on the anniversary of the shipwreck in 1945, Sawyer's body was found washed up on the rocks near Pemaquid Lighthouse. For some unknown reason, and with no note, he apparently committed suicide using a shotgun.
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 repair, funds were finally raised and restoration of the tower was completed in 2007.
Pemaquid Lighthouse and Oldest Windjammer in Maine Commemorative Quarter
The lighthouse that displays on Maine's commemorative state quarter in 2003 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 was retired a few years later. The ship was built around 1900 and was once declared the "Official Windjammer of Maine" as she was the oldest schooner on the coast.
She was recently sold to a pair of New York restaurateur brothers who were lifelong sailors, in 2023. They had previously transformed two other historic sailing vessels into floating restaurants. The brothers reported that they had admired the Victory Chimes for quite some time, and felt a responsibility to step in and ensure her preservation.
Female Ghost at the Keeper's House
Over the years, there have been reports of sightings of the ghost of a woman in a red shawl seen near the fireplace of the keeper’s house here. She appears wet and shivering, wearing clothing from the mid-1800s and seems to be in a state of distress. She does not appear as angry or vengeful, but quietly very sad. There have also been stories of the lights suddenly switching on upstairs in an unoccupied area of the building, and descriptions of unexplained noises like a door closing, faint crying, or footsteps.
The "ghost hunters" of Maine Ghost Walk who look for strange spikes in electromagnetic field (EMF) activity were contacted to look around the keeper's house. When they had arrived they experienced wild fluctuations on the K2 meter, a type of EMF detector. With the many wrecks that have occurred by the unique yet dangerous rock formations near the station, perhaps the entity is one of those who may have perished off the rocks near the lighthouse, or had lost someone or a family member.
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. |  |
The Fisherman's Museum, which is part of Pemaquid's adjoining buildings, and the lighthouse tower, are open during the summer months.
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Tours are offered daily 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.
| 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:
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Tower
Friends of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse
PO Box 367
Damariscotta, ME 04543-0367
Phone (207) 677-3266
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park
and Fisherman's Museum
3115 Bristol Road
New Harbor, ME 04554
Phone: (207) 677-2494
Pemaquid Point Keeper's House Apartment Rentals
Keeper's House Apartment Rental Info
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
Books to Explore
New England's Haunted Lighthouses: 
Available in paperback. |
Explore the historical mysteries surrounding the haunted lighthouses of New England! This image-rich book features ghost stories about spirits of devoted keepers who linger, victims of foul play or local shipwrecks, ghost ships, lost souls, and more, blending maritime history with the supernatural. Examine the stories behind the "shivering woman in red," and the wreck of two ships in a fierce storm, with more details regarding the strange coincidence 42 years later. Explore the tales linked with these iconic beacons! |
Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions of Northern New England: This resourceful book provides human interest stories from each of the 76 lighthouses along the northern New England coast, 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 Pemaquid. Look inside! |
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Available in paperback, hardcover, and as an eBook for all devices.
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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, including competitions, accidents, battling destructive storms, acts of heroism, and their final voyages. |
