4 Beautiful Maine Lighthouses on the Southern Coast
The Southern Coast of Maine is a beautiful place to visit at any time of the year. The region attracts tourists from all around the world especially during the summer months as the region boasts miles and miles of beaches. There are also several stunning Maine lighthouses that can be found from Kittery to Kennebunkport. Here are four of the best lighthouses to check out in Southern Maine:
Boon Island Light
- Location: York (Boon Island)
- Coordinates: 43.1214°N 70.4764°W
- Year First Lit: 1811 (Former) 1855 (Current)
- Activity: Active
- Focal Height: 137 ft (42 m)
- Location: Here
Boon Island Light is located on the 300-by-700-foot Boon Island that is 6.2 miles off the southern coast of Maine, near Cape Neddick. The lighthouse stands 133 feet tall which makes it the tallest lighthouse in Maine and actually in all of New England. A stone day beacon was established at the site of the current lighthouse in 1811 and the current lighthouse was built in 1855. The lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 14, 1988, and today is not open to the public. It is best viewed from a boat or an airplane.
Cape Neddick Light (Nubble Lighthouse)
- Location: York (Cape Neddick)
- Coordinates: 43.1652°N 70.6078°W
- Year First Lit: 1879
- Activity: Active
- Focal Height: 88 ft (27 m)
- Location: Here
Cape Neddick Lighthouse, more commonly known as Nubble Lighthouse, can be found in Cape Neddick, York, Maine. Nubble Lighthouse was constructed in 1879 after Congress appropriated $15,000 to build a light station at the “Nubble” in 1874. The lighthouse and the island it sits on are not allowed to be accessed by the general public. But, the lighthouse can be viewed up-close from Sohier Park. Nubble Light is a famous American icon and a classic example of a lighthouse. Don’t miss out on this iconic Maine Lighthouse!
Fun Fact: A photo of the lighthouse was even carried on the Voyager spacecraft in case the crew came into contact with intelligent extraterrestrials. Along with Nubble Lighthouse, there were photos of the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal.
Goat Island Light
- Location: Kennebunkport (Cape Porpoise)
- Coordinates: 43.3579°N 70.4251°W
- Year First Lit: 1835 (Former) 1859 (Current)
- Activity: Active
- Focal Height: 38 ft (12 m)
- Location: Here
Goat Island Light is a lighthouse located off Cape Porpoise near Kennebunkport in southern Maine. Goat Island stands on a small island at the entrance to Cape Porpoise Harbor and was built in 1835. The original station was upgraded in 1859 to the current brick tower with a fifth-order Fresnel lens. There is also a small keeper’s house and boathouse. The lighthouse can be seen from the shores of Cape Porpoise and the fish pier is a great viewpoint. The lighthouse is not open to the public, but it can be kayaked and boated around for being viewing.
Whaleback Light
- Location: Kittery (Piscataqua River)
- Coordinates: 43.0588°N 70.6963°W
- Year First Lit: 1820 (Former) 1872 (Current)
- Activity: Active
- Focal Height: 59 ft (18 m)
- Location: Here
Whaleback Light is a historic lighthouse marking the mouth of the Piscataqua River in Kittery, Maine. The lighthouse was first established in 1830 and the current tower was first lit in 1872. Whaleback Light stands on a rocky outcrop approximately 1500 feet from the Maine-New Hampshire border. This lighthouse can be seen from many spots onshore, including Fort Foster in Kittery, Fort Constitution, and Fort Stark. Since it is so close to New Hampshire, there are also great viewing spots from Great Island Common in New Castle, NH, and Odiorne Point in Rye, NH. It is truly one of the great Maine lighthouses!
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