Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, Bristol Maine

One of the most dramatically located lights on the Maine coast, Pemaquid Point Light is an extremely important navigational mark between the entrance to Johns Bay and Muscongus Bay. In spite of its location, it has been the scene of a number of tragic shipwrecks owing to the long ledge which runs southwesterly from its base.

In 1934 the keeper's house and surrounding land were given to the State and is now a state park with the dwelling having been converted into a lighthouse and maritime museum.

Of passing interest is the fact that on what is now the location of the lighthouse, hundreds of people stood on September 5^th, 1813, to witness the epic single ship action between the British brig Boxer and the United States brig Enterprise, only a short distance from shore, in which the former was defeated.

Site Description

Pemaquid Point Light, spectacularly located on a high promontory with long dramatically sea grieved ledges running southwesterly for a third of a mile into the ocean, was built originally in 1827 and rebuilt in 1857.

The station consists of three structures, a stone light tower with attached keeper's quarters and a red brick bell tower. The light tower is 34 feet high, square in configuration, and stands 79 feet above sea level with an 11,000-candlepower automated light. The keeper's quarters, also of stone, is a one-story single gable building. The bell tower, a square brick structure, is 12 feet high.