Pemaquid Point Lighthouse is one of the most photographed lighthouses in Maine — a white tower rising from a dramatic rocky headland where the Pemaquid Peninsula meets the open Atlantic, surrounded by smooth granite ledges swept by waves and offering views of the outer islands of Muscongus Bay. The lighthouse has appeared on the Maine state quarter and in the work of artists drawn to its combination of architectural simplicity and dramatic natural setting for nearly two centuries.
The Lighthouse
The current tower was built in 1835 — the third lighthouse on this site — standing 38 feet tall of locally quarried granite with a Fourth Order Fresnel lens installed in 1856, still in active operation. The lighthouse marks the western entrance to Muscongus Bay and has been a critical navigational landmark since the early 19th century. The waters off Pemaquid Point are treacherous — the ledges extend well offshore and the keeper’s logs document decades of dramatic rescues and tragic losses.
The Rocky Headland
The smooth, wave-worn granite ledges sweeping down from the lighthouse to the open Atlantic are the most compelling feature of the site — polished by millennia of wave action into flowing curves unlike anything on the more protected sections of the Maine coast. The headland is open for exploration. Walk carefully — the rock is dangerously slippery when wet and waves break unpredictably on the outer ledges. Never turn your back on the ocean. Best light: early morning for dramatic backlighting, late afternoon for warm western light on the granite. In a northeast storm, Pemaquid Point is one of the most dramatic wave-watching spots on the Maine coast.
The Fishermen’s Museum
Housed in the former lighthouse keeper’s quarters (dating from 1827), the Fishermen’s Museum presents the history of Maine’s fishing industry, the lighthouse and its keepers, and the maritime culture of the Pemaquid Peninsula. Open Memorial Day through Columbus Day with modest admission. Check current hours at bristolparks.org.
Fort William Henry
Adjacent to the lighthouse grounds, Fort William Henry preserves the site of a colonial fortification built in 1692 to protect the northernmost English settlement on the Maine coast. Reconstructed stone walls and a circular tower rise above the Pemaquid River, with a small museum presenting the fort’s history. Active archaeological excavations have produced significant colonial-era artifacts over decades of digs.
Pemaquid Beach
About a mile north of the lighthouse, Pemaquid Beach is one of the finest small beaches in midcoast Maine — a crescent of fine white sand in a sheltered cove with calm water for swimming. Significantly less crowded than southern Maine beaches. Modest day use fee; facilities include restrooms and a small snack bar.
New Harbor and Monhegan Island
New Harbor on the eastern shore of the peninsula is a working lobster village with good seafood restaurants and the departure point for Hardy Boat Cruises ferry service to Monhegan Island — a day trip that pairs beautifully with a lighthouse visit. See our Monhegan Island Day Trip guide.
Getting There
About 14 miles south of Damariscotta via Route 130 — about 20 minutes from Damariscotta and 1.5 hours from Portland. Parking charges a modest day use fee; arrive before 10am on summer weekends for best availability.
Plan Your Trip
Combine Pemaquid Point with Pemaquid Beach, lunch in New Harbor, and a ferry to Monhegan Island for a full peninsula day. For more midcoast Maine, see our guide to Things to Do in Damariscotta Maine, our Monhegan Island Day Trip guide, and our Things to Do in Boothbay Harbor Maine guide.
MaineGuide.com has been helping visitors plan their Maine trips since 1995.