Maine Lighthouse Tour

Bass Harbor Light by Michael Leonard

One of Maine’s most popular activities is driving the coast in search of lighthouses. Two hundred years ago lighthouses were incredibly important in safely bringing people and goods to Maine from around the world. At that time there were no cars or highways along Maine’s coast and sailors plying through Maine’s 4,000 islands hoped to have one lighthouse in view at all times and preferably two. “Keepers” maintained the lights at all times and used large bells to respond to ships that approached to close.

Today, Bar Harbor Whale Watching Company specializes in getting people out to see many of Maine’s offshore most storied lights. Throughout the summer and fall they offer a daily fully narrated Lighthouse and Acadia Park tour in the waters around Mount Desert Island to see five island lighthouses, a life-saving station, and fjord-like Somes Sound.

On Saturday, July 26, 2014 they are offering an all-day 15-lighthouse Grand Slam Tour. The trip will run from 9:00AM to 5:00PM and cover over 150 miles aboard the jet-powered catamaran Friendship V. Last year’s tour visited 17 island lighthouses taking in most of the lights between Bar Harbor and Rockland, Maine. Special guest lighthouse historian and author Jeremey D’Entremont will be providing fascinating human stories and history at each light.

Jeremy D’Entremont has been called the leading expert on New England’s historic lighthouses. He is the author of more than ten books, including The Lighthouses of Maine, Great Shipwrecks of the Maine Coast, and The Lighthouse Handbook: New England.