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Maine Open Lighthouse Day

September 12, 2026

Maine Open Lighthouse Day Information…
This popular annual event, which is sponsored by the American Lighthouse Foundation, the United States Coast Guard, and the Maine Office of Tourism, attracts between 15,000 to 18,000 visitors each year and offers the general public the rare opportunity to climb and learn about more than a dozen historic Maine lights.

List of participating sites:

The following is an updated list of the 2026 participating lighthouses — a few sites are still finalizing details, please check back for updates and details as noted.(Updated as of 9/7/2026)

All lighthouses are open 9:00 am to 3:00 pm unless otherwise noted.

Lighthouses may have a height requirement to climb, please visit their website for more information.

Browns Head Lighthouse

Browns Head Lighthouse (photo by Dominic Trapani)

Location: Vinalhaven (offshore)

**SPECIAL TIME: 10am to 2pm

Historic Buildings Open: Light tower only

How to Get There: Maine State Ferry from Rockland to Vinalhaven. Please see ferry’s website for schedule and fees at: www.maine.gov/dot/programs-services/ferry/vinalhaven-ferry or call .

Coordinates: 44° 6′ 42″N 68° 54′ 42″W

The light station is owned by the Friends of Browns Head Lighthouse, and the keeper’s house is now available for overnight stays. For more info, visit: www.brownsheadlighthouse.com

Burnt Coat Harbor Lighthouse

Burnt Coat Harbor Light

Location: Swan’s Island (offshore)

**SPECIAL TIME: 9am to 3pm

Historic Buildings Open: Light tower and keeper’s house

How to Get There: Maine State Ferry from Bass Harbor to Swan’s Island. Please see ferry’s website for schedule and fees at: www.maine.gov/mdot/ferry/swansisland/ or call (207) 244-3254.

Coordinates: 44°08′ 03″ N 68°26′ 50″ W

The lighthouse is an active Coast Guard aid to navigation. The light station is owned by the Town of Swan’s Island, and the historic buildings are cared for by the nonprofit Friends of Swan’s Island Lighthouse. For more info, visit: www.burntcoatharborlight.com

Burnt Island Lighthouse

Burnt Island Lighthouse

Location: Boothbay Harbor (offshore)

**SPECIAL TIME: 10am to 2pm

Historic Buildings Open: Light tower and keeper’s house (Living history museum inside)

How to Get There: Offshore…Water taxi (tickets required) available via Balmy Day Cruises located at Pier 8 in Boothbay Harbor.

The lighthouse is an active Coast Guard aid to navigation. The light station’s historic buildings are owned and managed by the Maine Department of Marine Resources. For more info, visit: www.maine.gov/dmr/programs/education-division/burnt-island-lighthouse

Coordinates: 43°49′ 31″ N 69°38′ 27″ W

Curtis Island Lighthouse

Curtis Island Lighthouse, Camden, ME

Location: Camden (offshore)

**SPECIAL TIME: 10am to 2pm

Historic Buildings Open: Tower and Keeper’s House

How to Get There: Offshore…Limited transportation will be provided by Curtis Island Lighthouse Foundation (email info@curtisisland.org for more information); visitors are encouraged to find their own boat transportation or to visit by kayak/paddlecraft.

Coordinates: 44°12′ 05″ N 69°02′ 55″ W

The lighthouse is an active Coast Guard aid to navigation. The light station’s historic buildings are owned and managed by the town of Camden. The Curtis Island Lighthouse Foundation is actively fundraising to help preserve the historic structures. For more information visit: curtisisland.org

Dyce Head Lighthouse

Dyce Head Lighthouse

Location: Castine (land-based)

**SPECIAL TIME: 10am to 2pm

Historic Buildings Open: Light tower only

How to Get There: Land based

Coordinates: 44°22′ 57″ N 68°49′ 07″ W

The lighthouse is an active aid to navigation. The light station’s historic buildings are owned and managed by the Town of Castine. The keeper’s house is a private residence (please respect the tenant’s privacy).

Fort Point Lighthouse

Fort Point Lighthouse

Location: Stockton Springs (land-based)

Historic Buildings Open: Light tower (contains a Fresnel lens)

How to Get There: Land based

Coordinates: 44°28′ 02″ N 68°48′ 42″ W

The lighthouse is an active Coast Guard aid to navigation and contains a beautiful fourth order Fresnel lens. The light station’s historic buildings are owned by the State of Maine and managed by the Fort Point State Historic Site. The keeper’s house is the residence of the Park Ranger and his family (please respect their privacy).

Goat Island Lighthouse

Goat Island Lighthouse

Location: Cape Porpoise (offshore)

Historic Buildings Open: Light tower and grounds

How to Get There: Offshore…visitors must find their own boat transportation to the island. If you enjoy kayaking, you are welcome to come ashore and tour the lighthouse.

Coordinates: 43°21′ 30″ N 70°25′ 30″ W

The lighthouse is an active Coast Guard aid to navigation. The light station’s historic buildings are owned and managed by the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust. For more info, visit: www.kporttrust.org

Grindle Point Lighthouse

Grindle Point Light

Location: Islesboro (offshore)

Historic Buildings Open: Tower, Keeper’s House Sailor’s Museum, Oil House and Gift Shop

**SPECIAL TIME: 8:30am to 4:30pm

How to Get There: Maine State Ferry from Lincolnville to the island of Islesboro. Please see ferry’s website for schedule and fees at: www.maine.gov/mdot/ferry/islesboro/ or call (207) 633-2284.

Coordinates: 44°16′ 56″ N 68°56′ 34″ W

The lighthouse is an active Coast Guard aid to navigation. The light station’s historic buildings are owned and managed by the Town of Islesboro. For more info, visit: grindlelight.com

Little River Lighthouse

Location: Cutler (Offshore/ island)

**SPECIAL TIME: 10am to 2:30pm

Historic Buildings Open: Tower

How to Get There: Offshore…Boat transportation will be available departing from Cutler’s Town Landing. FMI visit: https://www.littleriverlight.org/events/

Coordinates: 44° 39′ 03″ N 67° 11′ 32″ W

The lighthouse is an active Coast Guard aid to navigation. The island and light station’s historic buildings are owned and managed by the American Lighthouse Foundation.

Marshall Point Lighthouse

Marshall Point Lighthouse

Location: Port Clyde (land-based)

**SPECIAL TIME: 10am to 4pm

Historic Buildings Open: Tower and Keeper’s house (Museum & gift shop inside)

How to Get There: Land based

Coordinates: 43°55′ 03″ N 69°15′ 41″ W

The lighthouse is an active Coast Guard aid to navigation. The light station’s historic buildings are owned and managed by the St. George Historical Society. For more info, visit: www.marshallpoint.org

Monhegan Island Lighthouse

Monhegan Lighthouse

Location: Monhegan Island (offshore)

Historic Buildings Open: Light tower and keeper’s house (Museum inside)

**SPECIAL TIME: 11:30am to 3:30pm

How to Get There: Offshore…Boats from Port Clyde, New Harbor and Boothbay Harbor. Please see websites for the following companies for schedules and fees:

Monhegan Boat Line: monheganboat.com
T:(207) 372-8848

Hardy Boat Cruises: hardyboat.com/
T:(207) 677-2026

Balmy Days Cruises: www.balmydayscruises.com
T:(207) 633-2284

Coordinates: 43°45′ 54″ N 69°18′ 54″ W

Moose Peak Lighthouse

Moose Peak Lighthouse

Location: Mistake Island (offshore)

Historic Buildings Open: Light tower

How to Get There: The private owners will be offering two boat trips from Jonesport to Mistake Island. Please contact the owners of Moose Peak Light at the following email address for more information and to make a reservation: moosepeaklighthouse@gmail.com

Coordinates: 44°28′ 27.7″ N 67°31′ 55.3″ W

The lighthouse is an active Coast Guard aid to navigation. The light station structures are privately owned.

Owls Head Lighthouse

Owls Head Lighthouse

Location: Owls Head (land-based)

Historic Buildings Open: Light Tower (9am-4pm) & Historic Keeper’s House (Interpretive center & gift shop inside)

Special Activity: Book Signing – Author Angeli Perrow will signing copies of her popular children’s book, Lighthouse Dog to the Rescue, inside the keeper’s house from 1pm to 4pm.

How to Get There: Land based

Coordinates: 44°05′ 33″ N 69°02′ 39″ W

The lighthouse is an active Coast Guard aid to navigation and contains a beautiful fourth order Fresnel lens. The light station’s historic buildings are cared for by the American Lighthouse Foundation and serves as the headquarters for the nonprofit organization. For more info, visit: Tour Owls Head Lighthouse

Pemaquid Point Lighthouse

Pemaquid Point Lighthouse

Location: Bristol (land-based)

Historic Buildings Open:
Light tower (Cared for by the Friends of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse)

**Tower Tours: 9am to 5pm

Keeper’s House (Museum inside, which is operated by the Town of Bristol)

How to Get There: Land based

Coordinates: 43°50′ 12″ N 69°30′ 21″ W

The lighthouse is an active Coast Guard aid to navigation and contains a beautiful fourth order Fresnel lens. The light tower is cared for by the Friends of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation. If you want to make a donation to the lighthouse for its ongoing care and preservation, it must be done inside the tower itself, which is staffed by Friends of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse volunteers. For more info, visit: www.pemaquidpointlight.org/visit/

Portland Breakwater Lighthouse (Bug Light)

Portland Breakwater Lighthouse

Location: South Portland (land-based)

Historic Buildings Open: Light tower only.

How to Get There: Land based

Coordinates: 43°39′ 20″ N 70°14′ 06″ W

The lighthouse is a private aid to navigation and is owned by the City of South Portland.

Portland Head Lighthouse

Portland Head Lighthouse

Location: Cape Elizabeth (land-based)

**SPECIAL NOTE: Approximately 280 tickets will be made available for visitors on a first-come-first serve basis the day of the event, which are necessary for climbing the tower. You must be at least 48 inches tall and able to handle 85+ steps unassisted to climb the tower.

Historic Buildings Open: Light tower and keeper’s house (Museum inside & adjacent gift shop)

How to Get There: Land based

Coordinates: 43°37′ 24″ N 70°12′ 30″ W

The lighthouse is an active Coast Guard aid to navigation. The light station’s historic buildings are owned and managed by the Town of Cape Elizabeth. For more info on the Museum at Portland Head Light, visit: www.portlandheadlight.com

Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse

Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse

Location: Rockland (land-based via a 7/8-mile breakwater)

Historic Buildings Open: Light tower and keeper’s house

How to Get There: A 7/8-mile walk out the breakwater.

Coordinates: 44°06′ 15″ N 69°04′ 39″ W

The lighthouse is an active Coast Guard aid to navigation. The light station’s historic buildings are owned by the City of Rockland.

Spring Point Lighthouse

Spring Point Lighthouse

Location: South Portland (land-based via a breakwater)

Historic Buildings Open: Light tower

**SPECIAL NOTE: Numbered tickets will be available near the gift shop from 10:00am to 2:30pm. You must be 51” or 4’3” to tour the lighthouse.

How to Get There: Land based via a breakwater at the Southern Maine Community College

Coordinates: 43°39′ 07″ N 70°13′ 26″ W

The lighthouse is an active Coast Guard aid to navigation and is owned and managed by the Spring Point Ledge Light Trust. For more info, visit: springpointledgelight.org/

Squirrel Point Light

Squirrel Point Lighthouse

Location: Arrowsic

**SPECIAL TIME: 10am to 3pm

Historic Buildings Open: Keeper’s house and boathouse will be open

Coordinates: 43° 49′ 00″ N 68° 48′ 06″ W

How to Get There: Land based. Squirrel Point Light lies at the end of 2/3 mile trail in Arrowsic, Maine, approximately 10 miles from the City of Bath. Park at the end of Bald Head Road. The footpath through protected forests and wetlands is uneven and rough in places. No restrooms or drinking water available. The keeper’s house and boathouse are scheduled to be open to visitors.

For detailed directions visit www.squirrelpoint.org/visit.html.

Whitehead Lighthouse

Whitehead Lighthouse

Location: Whitehead Island (Offshore)

**SPECIAL TIME: 2pm to 4pm

How to Get There: Complimentary boat transportation available from Spruce Head Island with Registration. Complete this form to register for transportation: RSVP FORM Upon registering you will receive driving directions to pick up location.

Historic Buildings Open: Light tower, keepers house, whistle house and grounds

Coordinates: 43°58′ 43″ N 69°07′ 27″ W

The lighthouse is an active Coast Guard aid to navigation. The light station is owned and maintained by the nonprofit Pine Island Camp which offers educational enrichment programs and retreats for adults at this location. For more info, visit: www.whiteheadlightstation.org

Other Lighthouse Attractions:

 

Maine Lighthouse Museum

Maine Lighthouse Museum

Location: One Park Drive, Rockland

The Museum has the largest collection of Fresnel lenses on display in the nation. Other exhibits pay tribute to our lighthouse history (both the U.S. Lighthouse Service and U.S. Coast Guard eras), as well as the United States Life-Saving Service. The Museum is a must-see while visiting Maine’s lighthouses.

FMI: Visit www.mainelighthousemuseum.org or call (207) 594-3301.

Maine Maritime Museum

Maine Maritime Museum Lighthouse Exhibit

Location: 243 Washington Street, Bath

The Museum’s exhibit “Into the Lantern: A Lighthouse Experience”, featuring a full-scale replication of the Cape Elizabeth Two Lights lighthouse tower lantern room, allows visitors to see the original second-order Fresnel lens from the east tower at Two Lights and experience the environment of the lantern room through time-lapsed video projections featuring a panorama of the Gulf of Maine that changes with the weather and seasons. This immersive exhibit is the first of its kind anywhere.

FMI and Admission Fees Visit: www.mainemaritimemuseum.org or call (207) 443-1316.

West Quoddy Head Lighthouse Keepers Association

West Quoddy Head Lighthouse Visitors Center Pop-up - Lubec, ME

Location: 32 Water St, Lubec

Hours: 10am to 4pm

The WQHLKA Visitor Center & Museum is temporarily located in downtown Lubec, just a short distance from their usual home at West Quoddy Head Light. With its picturesque setting and rich history, West Quoddy Head Light is a true gem of the coast and even though it will not be open for climbing this year, it is worth the stop!

After your visit to the lighthouse, head on over to the WQHLKA Pop-Up location in downtown Lubec to learn more about this beloved landmark! Dive into the fun with lighthouse history exhibits and interactive experiences that will brighten your day. Explore unique merchandise, stunning art cards, and beautiful artwork from local artists.

FMI Visit: westquoddy.com.

Maine Open Lighthouse Day – Participating Sites Map

 


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