Pemaquid Point Lighthouse

Upon arrival in Maine we stopped at the first visitor’s center and asked which lighthouse we should stop and see on our way out of the state. The not so friendly gentleman told us to find this one, and we did. Upon arrival it’s very underwhelming. The video is kind of a drag, but the art on display is worth looking over, and if you have some cash to part with it’s probably worth it. The shoreline here is amazing! Climb to the top of the lighthouse and enjoy the view. The guy standing in the lighthouse was very knowledgeable and shared his knowledge freely. Everything about the guy and the lighthouse was interesting. This is definitely worth the trip down the peninsula.

Great place to check out. Awesome place to take pics. Had the lobster roll at the place next door which was pretty good. Bring food for a picnic or buy food to eat from the place next door.

Great place!
We came over after some friends left after a great visit and everyone needed to get out. Even though it was an exceptionally hot day, there was a breeze that helped take the edge off.
My youngest and I decided to climb to the top of the lighthouse. Be forewarned — the lighthouse steps are steep and a spiral cast iron type with the last seven steps being a metal ladder — not for those afraid of heights. When my daughter went up, she started to get nervous, but we did make it to the top — a hot hot tight room with the light itself. BTW, we were the first ones up and thus had to wait for the other four people (only six at a time can fit) to go down as there was no room to go around — single file only.
The only complaint that I have is that the places closes tight at 5 pm, including the restrooms. When we finished the tour it was after 5 pm and we had to use a very heavy used (if you know what I mean) port-​a-​potty.
Loved it and would definitely like to come out during fall weather and see some waves crashing on the rocks.

I would give this park 5 stars but the drive down the point can be a little long.
The rocks surrounding the lighthouse are fun to walk on. Just watch your footing and wear sturdy shoes.
Watching the waves crash there can be pretty breathtaking. Many people can be seen down there during a storm watching the waves crash.
From what I have seen there is no real swimming access here. A great picnic spot and little museum to look in.
It can get crowded here in the summer, but in the dead of winter I have had the park to myself on several occasions.
*painters or photographers would love this park.

Cute lighthouse on a nice property, with a lovely small art gallery on site. Museum I would rate as just ok — docent there seemed to know less than the folks at the lighthouse museum in Rockland.
Checkout the rocks below — the natural topography is pretty cool.

One more lighthouse I can say I climbed to the top of! Thankfully I climbed the tallest (Cape Hatteras) when I was 20 years younger! This one was a breeze.
It sits on some of the most amazing property you’ll ever lay eyes on! Very well kept and well run. The Fishermen’s Museum was very interesting and manned by some pretty colorful characters that will tell you tall tales and answer your questions.
My only disappointment was not being able to get my token trophy for climbing it, the small replica lighthouse that you can buy at every other lighthouse in the U.S. The Sea Gull Gift Shop next door said they don’t make them for Pemaquid. It’s on the frickin’ state quarter for pete’s sake!

A true gem– words can’t describe how perfect this lookout point is on a stormy day. A friend took us here during a near downpour over July 4^th weekend and it’s a must-​see. I’m never really impressed by lighthouses but this one was something else. The rock fissures and surrounding environment cut sharply into the foundation on which the lighthouse lies. It’s more of a peninsula land layout than anything else. The waves that crash onto these rock fissures are also a blinding white-​green. …Like I said, it’s really hard to describe how beautiful this place is. Come on a rainy day and you’ll see what I mean.

I have a real thing for lighthouses and covered bridges, or any cool bridge for that matter. Although I consider it a privilege to stand before any of these awesome structures, I do have a few favorites.
The top three lighthouses I’ve had the pleasure to experience in person would be:
1) Portland Head — Cape Elizabeth, ME
2) Ponce De Leon Inlet — Daytona Beach, FL
3) and here @ Pemaquid Point
A LITTLE HISTORY
The current lighthouse and keeper’s house @ Pemaquid Point were built in 1835 and 1857 respectively. There is a memorial stone out front dedicated to John Cogswell, an English immigrant whom made the journey to America on a ship that crash in 1635 off the shores of this location. I probably would not have paid any more notice to this story if I hadn’t met two ladies taking pictures in front of this stone. They were blood relatives of Mr. Cogswell, excited to visit this place for the first time and witness the plaque dedicated to their family. It made me excited for them, so offered to take their pictures.
What I discovered later is John Cogswell had an impressive line of descendants that include Princess Diana, John Adams (2^nd president of the United States), John Quincy Adams (6^th president of the United States), Calvin Coolidge (30^th president of the United States) and several famous authors, politicians, actors, historians, poets and even the fourth president of Ireland. WOW, now that’s some serious lineage. [source: Wilkipedia]
THE EXPERIENCE
The lighthouse is about as picturesque as they come. It is surrounded by beautifully landscaped grounds with green grass and gorgeous trees on one side and a really interesting rock ledge on the sea side. Our boys spent most of their time climbing and exploring the rocks while other visitors painted, picnicked or sat quietly taking in the beautiful scenery. There was also a wedding ceremony preparing to begin on the north lawns.
Inside you will find a museum with an enthusiastic tour guide that will tell you all kinds of things about the history of the lighthouse. You can also tour the lighthouse tower and walk to the top (5 persons at a time only). It’s pretty tight up there, but provides great views.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The geological rock formations alone are enough to make me want to visit this lighthouse again and again. They only serve to enhance the quiet beauty of this lighthouse and all its gorgeous surroundings. Don’t miss it.

Fog
rocks
and
lights
Pemaquid Point is a place of incredible natural beauty, power and danger. A perfect place for a lighthouse and park.
Because of the frequent fog, howling storms and nasty rocks Pemaquid Point has been feared by mariners for a long time. As soon as this area was settled cries started going out for a lighthouse to help guide the way.
The very first light here was built in 1827 but because the cheap and incompetent builder used salt water for the mortar instead of fresh water it soon started to crumble.
So the first light was torn down and the one that still stand today was constructed in 1835. It is 39 feet tall and has a 4^th order Fresnel Lens that is still in use. One of the very few Fresnel Lens that is still doing it’s job.
The lighthouse isn’t exceptionally tall but because of it’s location on the cliffs it seems much larger than it really is and can be seen far out at sea.
You can still go up to the top on the cool lighthouse and get incredible views from all directions. Even with the fog the feeling of being on top of the light is exhilarating. A nice spiral staircase leads to the top and it’s a short and cramped climb. Certainly not the exhausting climb of the much taller lights.
Next to the light is a very small museum with all kinds of cool old stuff and photos. Several out buildings and of course the treacherous but amazing bedrock that was exposed by the constant pounding of the weather is all around.
A truly fantastic and breathtaking lighthouse and park. Not just for the light but for the location. The people of Maine voted this light to be on their new quarter and there is even a background on Windows 7 of this light.
There are lots of great lighthouses in Maine. Portland Head, Cape Neddick, Quoddy and all amazing and unique. But there is no lighthouse I have yet seen any more awe inspiring that Pemaquid.

This is my favorite lighthouse! I love having lunch at the picnic tables overlooking the ocean and climbing on the rocks down below. And somehow, it’s never crowded.

Shoe alert! Be prepared. But, Pemaquid is like a magnet for lovers of earth’s natural beauty. Pemaquid Point Light house is a rare scenic experience that’s absolutely even more beautiful than the pictures posted. Its magnificent rustic charm and panoramic views cannot be surpassed, as there may be places in the world as beautiful, but none are more so. One major caution, there should be more signage warning visitors about the risk of rock climbing or to advise people about wearing secure shoes, because the rocks are very tempting but not wise walking for everyone.

This is one of the most beautiful lighthouses in Maine… and beyond. The rocks are simply stunning and so much fun to climb around. There is a great breakfast/​lunch place right near the lighthouse as well as a fun little gift shop and ice cream store to stroll through after exploring the light and the rocks. It is one of the most beautiful places in Maine.

One should see this place before it gets «Boothbay-​ized». Authentic destination, the kind one expects in short jaunts off Route 1, America’s Highway. I never went on vacation as a kid, but if I did (we are talking the 50’s and 60’s here) this is the place where I would have loved to visit.
OK, that’s water under the bridge, says my therapist.
I have been here several times in the past few years since friends moved to nearby Bristol. Last weekend was the first time that everything was open, the lighthouse, the Fisherman’s Museum, the Art Gallery (all local folks, including my friend Bobbie Applegate… check out her work). Well worth $ 2. THIS PLACE IS ON THE BACK OF THE MAINE QUARTER! The «main» attraction (pun definitely intended), though, are the rocks and the waves. I have long forgotten my high school Earth Science, so the rock formations of the shoreline here are hard to adequately describe. Come here on a quiet day and try to imagine the forces of Nature that formed this area. Then go to Damariscotta and have a few draft beers and some local seafood. That will be a day you will long savor.

I visited the Pemaquid Light for the first time about 40 years ago and it’s exactly the same! Maine’s best lighthouse — not just for the lighthouse itself, but the surroundings are spectacular. The granite rocks below the light are amazing and can hold your attention for hours if you’re prone to wander. It’s quite photogenic and very quaint. The Fisherman’s Museum is in the building next to the lighthouse and contains a few artifacts — most amazingly a GIANT lobster that was caught a long time ago — huge! There are picnic tables and plenty of places to sit. Take a camera and lunch! This is a state park with a $ 2/​person entry fee «in season». The folks who work here are locals with a ton of knowledge and they’re super friendly. A great spot for hanging out and seeing the «real Maine».

This lighthouse is a well-​known national treasure, thankfully still impervious to the shade of tacky tourism. Most of the time it isn’t overly crowded, and is a downright peaceful peace.
Tour the lighthouse, make a donation, and take in the beautiful shoreline view.
Don’t forget a coat, though — it gets brisk.

Went here often as a kid with my brother and parents for picnics up on the rocks. There is a special spot that feels almost like a little cave which is where we always sat! There is a small fee to get in during the summer season, but if you go off season its free to just drive on in and enjoy the quiet surroundings! In the winter all you can hear are waves crashing and wind blowing through the trees. Its wonderful.
There is a little gift shop that serves ice cream right next to the lighthouse (if you are facing the ocean, the gift shop is the little building to your left), although there is a silly chain link fence separating the lighthouse area and the gift shop.
This light house is beautiful and full of history, but the view of the open ocean and occational boats are just as amazing as the lighthouse itself!
PS– Please be careful if you bring your kids here– it amazes me when I see folks let their kids go below the water line onto the slimey, slippery, wet parts of the rocks that were fully submerged when the tide was high!

This is one of the best lighthouses in Maine. There are 6 really well known lighthouses in Maine (though Maine has about 70 all together) and this is one of them, it was even featured on the Maine state quarter. For a small fee (during nice weather between Memorial and Columbus day when they have volunteers) you are allowed to go inside the lighthouse as well as the small museum in the adjoining house. Going inside one of the countries most beautiful lighthouses and getting to see and touch the fresnel lens was amazing. The lighthouse is still in use and you can come back during dusk and watch the light being used. It’s pretty difficult (impossible I’m sure during peak days) to get good photos without people in the shot but it’s still a gorgeous lighthouse with a great rocky coast you can walk around and relax listening to the water crashing into the rocks.
They do have bathrooms here as well as a small gallery with paintings from local artists. There really isn’t a gift shop but they do have a few Pemaquid items for sale. The museum in the house isn’t that good but the people are unbelievably nice. The Pemaquid Point lighthouse should be on everyones bucket list– it really is a national treasure.

The first time I visit this place was well over twenty years ago while summer vacationing with the family. It was very nice to make a return trip here this past August for a reunion with my long lost cousins. It was just as awesome as I remembered it. It is well worth it to take the donation only tour to the top of the lighthouse. Great views of the water, and the waves crashing on the rocks. Picnic lunches are suggested as this is a great place just to chill out for a couple hours.

An image of the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse is depicted on the Maine quarter… who knew? This place is lovely and breathtaking: I could spend hours watching the waves crash on the rocky shore. The tour guide at this lighthouse was knowledgeable and clearly passionate about the preservation of this historic landmark. A great place to bring a packed lunch and take in the view of the ocean. Tours of the lighthouse are free and donations are strongly encouraged.