Rockland Harbor
Southwest Lighthouse
Owls Head, Maine
Built in 1987
Location:
Southeast entrance to Rockland harbor. Located at the end of Sherman's Lane, off North Shore Drive (the road to Owl's Head) on the south side of Rockland. Site and tower closed (private residence).
Latitude: 44° 60' 00" N
Longitude: 69° 50' 00" W
Historic Stories:
One of the newest lighthouses added to the Maine Coast Guard list and the only lighthouse in New England that has been privately built.
| Lighthouse enthusiast Bruce Woolet, with the help of the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland, built Rockland Harbor Southwest Light in 1985. | 
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In 1987, Woolet obtained the license to have the lighthouse become an official Coast Guard lighthouse. The Coast Guard accepted the lighthouse as a privately maintained aid to navigation. It was sold in 1998 to the new owner, John Gazzola, who continued to renovate the building.
Places to Visit:
Enjoy picnicking at Owls Head Light State Park, and walk along some of the trails along the cliffs and shoreline, and you can walk up to Owl’s Head Light as well.
| The Owls Head Lighthouse is situated atop cliffs over Rockland Harbor, and is easily accessed by a stairway. | 
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Enjoy Owls Head Harbor on the way to Owls Head Light and watch this little fishing region work.
Boats Moored in Owls Head |
Due to its enclosed location, the harbor rarely freezes over, and you will find boats moored in the harbor year round. |
Take time to visit the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland, one of the most famous lighthouse museums in the world.
Take the Maine State Ferry out of Rockland Harbor to explore the surrounding islands at Vinalhaven.
Directions:
- New owners have purchased the property and I was told that they do not welcome tourists to tresspass on their property to take pictures of the lighthouse. However, the lighthouse can by viewed across a small cove.
- To view the beacon across the cove, take Route 1 into Rockland, then take a right onto Route 73 (you can also head out to see Owl's Head Light along this route).
- When you see Everett Avenue on your left follow down to the shoreline to view the lighthouse.
Books to Explore
New book coming out August 1, 2026!  Available in paperback. |
America's Boston Light: Discover Boston Light’s 310-year history and its ties to key historical events, all presented with plenty of color and vintage images. Learn the story of its first lighthouse keeper, including his tragic death, and explore the social customs of the colonial era. Find out about the lighthouse’s connections to notable figures like Ben Franklin and uncover intriguing mysteries. Read about shipwrecks and the rescue missions carried out by the keepers, and later, coordinated rescues with the Hull Lifesavers on shore. |
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. Explore the tales linked with these iconic beacons! |
Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions of Northern New England: This special book provides human interest stories from each of the 76 lighthouses along the northern states of New England, along with plenty of coastal attractions and tours near each beacon. Look inside! |
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This book is 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 built to carry massive quantities of coal and building supplies and measured longer than a football field! These true stories include competitions, accidents, battling destructive storms, acts of heroism, and their final voyages. |
