Pemaquid Point Lighthouse

Pemaquid Point Lighthouse stands on a promontory of metamorphic rock that looks like nothing else on the Maine coast. The ledges flow in parallel bands—gray, white, and rust-striped granite that angles into the Atlantic like frozen waves. Above them rises the 38-foot white tower that has marked this dangerous shore since 1827, warning mariners away from the rocks that have claimed countless ships.

This is not merely a lighthouse; it’s a complete coastal experience. Visitors come for the tower and stay for the geology, the tide pools, the crashing surf, the museum, and the sheer photogenic drama of a place where Maine’s rugged beauty reaches full expression.

The Lighthouse

History

The original lighthouse was constructed in 1827, making Pemaquid Point one of Maine’s earliest light stations. The current tower dates to 1835, rebuilt after the original proved inadequate. John Quincy Adams commissioned the light; it has operated continuously since, automated in 1934.

Key dates:

1827: Original lighthouse built
1835: Current tower constructed
1857: Fourth-order Fresnel lens installed
1934: Light automated
1997: Listed on National Register of Historic Places
Current: Active U.S. Coast Guard navigation aid

The Tower

The white-painted brick tower rises 38 feet from a granite foundation embedded in the bedrock. Its fourth-order Fresnel lens (still the original from 1857) flashes every six seconds, visible for 14 miles at sea.

Visiting the tower: The tower is open seasonally for climbing (typically mid-May through mid-October). Stairs lead to the lantern room, where the Fresnel lens sparkles in sunlight and the view extends across Muscongus Bay.

Tower hours: Generally 10:30 AM to 5 PM when open. Check current schedule.

Tower fee: A small donation is requested. The fee supports preservation.

The Keeper’s House Museum

The attached keeper’s dwelling houses the Fishermen’s Museum, operated by the town of Bristol. Exhibits cover:

Local fishing history and traditions
Lighthouse keeping life
Maritime artifacts from the region
The 1857 Fresnel lens (visible up close)
Historic photographs

Museum hours: Match tower hours, seasonal operation.

Museum fee: Small admission charge.

The Rocks

Geological Wonder

The real star of Pemaquid Point may be the rock formations. These are not typical Maine granite—they’re metamorphic, transformed by heat and pressure millions of years ago into the distinctive banded pattern visible today.

The ledges slope into the sea at dramatic angles, their parallel stripes looking almost artificial in their regularity. The rock is smooth in some places, rough in others, carved by millennia of waves.

Geological term: The formations are technically gneiss and schist, heavily folded and metamorphosed. For visitors, they’re simply spectacular.

Tide Pools

Where the rock meets the water, tide pools form in natural depressions. At low tide, these pools reveal marine life:

Sea stars (starfish)
Sea urchins
Crabs
Anemones
Periwinkles and other snails
Seaweed varieties
Mussels and barnacles

Best viewing: Low tide. Check tide charts before your visit.

Tide pool etiquette:

Look, don’t remove
Replace any rocks you move
Watch your step—creatures live beneath
Keep an eye on the incoming tide

Surf and Spray

When waves roll in, Pemaquid Point transforms. Water surges into channels, spray launches skyward, and the thunder of surf against rock fills the air. Storm watching is popular—but dangerous.

Safety note: Visitors have been swept from these rocks by unexpected waves. Stay back from the water’s edge, especially in rough conditions. The granite is slippery when wet.

Visiting Pemaquid Point

Location

Pemaquid Point is located at the tip of the Pemaquid Peninsula, about 15 miles south of Route 1 in the Bristol/Damariscotta area.

Address: 3115 Bristol Road, Bristol, ME 04539

From Route 1: Take Route 130 south from Damariscotta. Follow signs to Pemaquid Point (about 14 miles).

Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park

The lighthouse and grounds are managed as a park by the Town of Bristol.

Park hours: Dawn to dusk, year-round.

Entry fee: A per-vehicle fee is charged during summer season (typically Memorial Day through Columbus Day). Off-season, the gate is often open with no fee.

Parking: Lot adjacent to the lighthouse. Can fill on peak summer days—arrive before 10 AM for easiest parking.

Facilities

Restrooms near parking lot
Picnic tables on the grounds
Gift shop (seasonal)
No food service on-site

Accessibility

The main viewing areas near the lighthouse are accessible. The rock ledges are natural terrain—uneven, sloped, and challenging for those with mobility limitations.

When to Visit

Best Times

For photography:

Sunrise: The eastern exposure catches morning light beautifully
Sunset: Creates dramatic silhouettes and warm tones on the tower
Storm conditions: Dramatic but dangerous; maintain safe distance

For tide pools:

Low tide (check tide charts)
Morning hours often calmer

For fewer crowds:

Early morning (before 9 AM)
Weekdays
Shoulder season (May, September, October)

Seasonal Considerations

Summer: Peak crowds, all facilities open, best weather for tide pooling. Parking lot fills early on sunny weekends.

Fall: Fewer visitors, spectacular light. Tower and museum may have reduced hours.

Spring: Variable weather, minimal crowds. Some facilities may not yet be open.

Winter: Park accessible for day use but lighthouse and museum closed. Dramatic storm watching (from safe distance).

Photography Tips

Pemaquid Point is one of Maine’s most photographed locations. The combination of lighthouse, rocks, and sea creates endless compositions.

Classic Shots

Lighthouse and rocks: Wide angle from the ledges below, capturing both tower and striped granite.

Fresnel lens detail: Close-ups of the lens inside the tower.

Tide pool macro: Small world photography in the pools.

Surf action: Long exposures smooth the water; fast shutter speeds freeze spray.

Sunrise silhouette: Tower against the dawn sky.

Technical Tips

Bring a polarizer to cut glare on water and wet rock
Wide-angle lens for landscape compositions
Macro lens for tide pool details
Tripod for sunrise/sunset and long exposures
Lens cloth—spray is real

Composition Advice

Use the rock striations as leading lines toward the lighthouse
Include people for scale
Low angles emphasize the drama of the rocks
Return in different conditions—same location, infinite variations

Nearby Attractions

Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site

About 3 miles from the lighthouse, this archaeological site preserves the remains of a 17th-century English settlement. Museum, replica buildings, and walking paths. Separate admission.

Fort William Henry

Adjacent to Colonial Pemaquid, a reconstruction of the 1692 fort. The tower offers views across the harbor.

Pemaquid Beach Park

A rare sandy beach on this rocky coast. Swimming, picnicking, and more gentle shoreline exploration. About 2 miles from the lighthouse.

Rachel Carson Salt Pond Preserve

Near New Harbor, this quarter-acre tidal pool was made famous by marine biologist Rachel Carson, who studied here. Excellent tide pooling in a quieter setting.

Practical Tips

What to Bring

Camera (you will take pictures)
Comfortable walking shoes with good grip (rock surfaces can be slippery)
Layers (ocean air is cooler than inland)
Sunscreen and sunglasses
Binoculars (for birds, boats, and distant islands)
Cash for admission and gift shop

What to Avoid

Flip-flops or smooth-soled shoes (dangerous on wet rock)
Getting too close to the surf line
Disturbing tide pool creatures
Rushing—this place rewards lingering

Dining

No food service at the lighthouse. Nearby options include:

Shaw’s Fish & Lobster Wharf (New Harbor): Casual waterfront dining, fresh seafood, local favorite.

The Contented Sole (New Harbor): Seafood and lobster.

Damariscotta: 14 miles north, with multiple restaurant options.

Lodging

The keeper’s quarters at Pemaquid Point are not available for overnight stays. Nearby accommodations include:

Inns and B&Bs in the Pemaquid/New Harbor area
Hotels in Damariscotta
Vacation rentals on the peninsula

The Pemaquid Experience

You walk from the parking lot toward the tower and the Atlantic opens before you. The lighthouse rises white against the blue. But your eye goes to the rocks—those extraordinary striped ledges angling toward the surf like the pages of a stone book.

You pick your way down onto the granite. The surface is unexpectedly smooth in places, rough in others. The bands of color flow beneath your feet, across the point, into the water. Waves surge into the channels, retreat, surge again. The rhythm is hypnotic.

In a tide pool, a sea star clings to rock that was ancient before life crawled from the sea. The lighthouse keeper’s signal has flashed from this point for nearly 200 years, yet the rocks remember when there was no keeper, no lighthouse, no humans—just the patient conversation of water and stone.

That conversation continues. The surf speaks; the rocks listen. The light flashes. And visitors stand on this improbable geology, cameras in hand, trying to capture something that photographs never quite convey: the feeling of a place where Maine’s coast reaches one of its finest expressions.

Pemaquid Point is worth the drive down the peninsula. The lighthouse alone would justify the trip; combined with the remarkable rock formations and the ever-changing play of surf and light, it becomes one of the essential experiences on the Maine coast.