Maine Open Lighthouse Day will Shine bright on September 10

Maine’s iconic coastal sentinels will take heart stage throughout Maine’s thirteenth Annual Open Lighthouse Day, to be held Saturday, September 10. Not less than 18 lighthouses will welcome guests with free entry on this at some point. 

This standard family-friendly occasion, sponsored by the USA Coast Guard, the Maine Workplace of Tourism and the American Lighthouse Basis, attracts many hundreds of tourists yearly for an exploration of the wealthy historical past related to Maine’s lighthouses and lightkeepers.

“Maine’s lighthouses are a bridge to our storied maritime historical past and proceed to serve Maine’s fishing, transport, and leisure boaters at present,” stated Steve Lyons, Director of the Maine Workplace of Tourism, in a information launch. “Maine Open Lighthouse Day showcases their timeless magnificence and is an excellent method to expertise the attraction of Maine’s coastal communities and enchanting islands.”

Maine is also known as “The Lighthouse State.”

Starting in 1791, lighthouses have been in-built Maine to assist mariners navigate via harmful waters and quite a few islands. By the flip of the twentieth century, no less than 70 lighthouses guarded Maine’s seacoast and river channels.   

At the moment, 66 lighthouses nonetheless stand sentry over the Maine coast, guiding seafarers to security. However over the many years, Maine’s iconic lighthouses have come to be greater than merely navigational aids. The historic buildings that home the lights have develop into a cherished reminder of the hardihood, romance and journey of Maine’s maritime historical past. 

“The significance of those historic lighthouses to Maine is clear within the dedication of the communities and volunteers who make investments their time and skills in preserving this necessary connection to Maine’s maritime heritage,” stated Bob Trapani, Jr., American Lighthouse Basis Government Director. “Open Lighthouse Day celebrates these majestic sentinels and permits the general public to see them up shut and listen to a few of their tales from the individuals who know them greatest.”

A lot of Maine’s lighthouses could be seen with floor visitation, some solely by boat. Collaborating lighthouses can be open from 9 a.m. to three p.m. throughout Maine Open Lighthouse Day until in any other case famous. Entry to lighthouses and lighthouse excursions are free, with donations elective. Some parking and transportation prices to lighthouses are extra. 

Displays on the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland and the “Into the Lantern” exhibit on the Maine Maritime Museum in Tub provide additional exploration on the historical past of Maine’s lights.

For particulars and map of the 2022 taking part websites and sights go to: http://www.lighthousefoundation.org/maine-open-lighthouse-day/