In a state with more coastline than California (true story!) it should come as no surprise that where the land meets the sea there are tons of lighthouses. Many of them are captured in photographs and sold all over the world as the perfect example of the quintessential New England scene. While we love to visit them, quite a few fly under the radar. This one, the tallest lighthouse in Maine, has a pretty interesting history.
Boon Island is a tiny bit of land taking up just 300-by-700-feet of space off the coast of Southern Maine, not far from Cape Neddick.
waynesphotos / Flickr
It was built in 1811 and then rebuilt in 1855 after being washed away in a storm in 1832. It stands 133 feet tall, making it not only the tallest lighthouse in Maine but also all of New England!
Keith D / TripAdvisor
But, talk of adding a lighthouse to the area here began all the way back in the early 1700s when the Nottingham Galley ran aground on the island and the crew was famously forced to resort to cannibalism to stay alive before they were rescued.
waynesphotos / Flickr
Boon Island Lighthouse has seen quite a bit over the years. This bad luck continued all the way into more modern times when a 1978 blizzard cause massive damage to the light, the keeper’s house, and the outbuildings.
ragingwire / Flickr
After that, the light was automated with a solar-powered beacon.
Management / TripAdvisor
Today, the light stands on Boon Island warning ships of the rocky bit of land that sits in the water.
Management / TripAdvisor
Do you have a favorite lighthouse here in Maine? Let us know in the comments on Facebook!
waynesphotos / Flickr
Keith D / TripAdvisor
ragingwire / Flickr
Management / TripAdvisor
It’s fun to see these lights in photos, but it’s even more fun to go see them in person! To see some of our favorites consider taking the lighthouse road trip on the Maine coast that’s dreamily beautiful.
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Address: Boon Island Light, Boon Island, ME, USA
