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Wednesday, August 24, 2016

We Saw the Light . . .

And it was the Pemaquid Point Light, a historic lighthouse in Bristol, Lincoln County, Maine, at the tip of the Pemaquid Neck. The lighthouse is featured on the 23rd quarter in the 50 State Quarters Program issued by the U.S. Mint after being voted on by a majority of Maine residents.

A previous post described a few highlights of our weekend Maine adventure. This was another one during that same trip.

Our NJ friends who we visited recently in Maine, have visited the lighthouse many times during previous visits. They drove there and waited while we waited our turn to climb to the top. There was a short wait time as once inside, space is very limited — and tight. Only 4-6 people entered at a time. We shared the climb with a family of four visiting from Genoa, Italy.

Permaquid Point Lighthouse was commissioned in 1827 by President John Quincy Adams and built the same year. Soon afterwards it started to crumble due to poor quality workmanship and mixing salt water in the mortar mix. It was replaced in 1835 and the second building contract specified the use of only fresh water. The lighthouse keeper oversaw construction to ensure this decision was upheld.

The tower is 38 feet high and is ascended by way of a spiral staircase which ends in 5 small (and narrow) steps that lead into the top. 


The lighthouse lens optic is a Fresnal lens (1856) 
that displays a flashing white light every 6 seconds and is  visible 14 nautical miles. It was automated in 1934.

The lighthouse remains an active aid to navigation. It's owned by the U.S. Coast Guard and licensed to the American Lighthouse Foundation. The Friends of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation, is dedicated to restoring the historic lighthouse.

Exposed bedrock descends from the lighthouse to the ocean creating a unique scenic landscape. This geological formation dates back hundreds of years and has made Permaquid Point one of the most popularly photographed Maine lighthouses.

Images shot straight out of camera (SOOC)


Dramatic effects filter applied in camera
In spite of this craggy environment, there's a widespread variety of colorful flowering plants, such as rose hips and black-eyed susan, in and around the bedrock.


And, if you would you like to vacation at a lighthouse, you can rent the Keepers House is for a weekly stay at a cost of $1,200 for up to 4 people. There’s a queen bed and pull out sofa bed as well as internet access, TV, DVD/VCR, microwave, outdoor furniture, drinkable water, oceanfront. But bring your linens and towels as these are not provided. Rental proceeds are used to fund ongoing lighthouse maintenance and restoration.

9 comments:

Anvilcloud said...

Some great views. I like the surrounding rock.

MadSnapper said...

I love the dramatic effect photos, it is dramatic. of course the SOOC is dramatic to because those slabs of stone are spectacular all by them selves. I love the design in the steps and I can believe it is popular for photographers. I enlarged all the photos to get the details. Awesome

Eggs In My Pocket said...

How beautiful! As you know.......I love lighthouses and I have always wanted to visit Maine.........now from your beautiful post and photos, I really want to visit there!

Emma Springfield said...

Lighthouses usually have fascinating history about them. This one has more than a lot of them because it had to be rebuilt. It is a beautiful structure. Sadly lighthouses are becoming things of the past much like covered bridges.

William Kendall said...

It really is a beautiful lighthouse, especially in that setting.

Ginnie said...

Lighthouses have always fascinated me ...You gave us a good visual of the interior ... thanks. And I love the state of Maine.

Connie said...

Beautiful flowers! I don't think I'd care to climb those winding stairs. It would be a pretty view from the top, though.

NCmountainwoman said...

What an amazing place. Astonishing that it is part of Pangaea that broke off from Africa. Many years ago I would have made the climb. Now my dizziness doesn't let me do spiral.

SmartFella? said...

Then... Pemaquid Point Lighthouse was commissioned in 1827 by President John Quincy Adams and built the same year.
Now... The President commissioned the lighthouse on Palooka Point and, after 7 years of studies, legal actions and protests, construction was begun, only to be suspended because a federal judge placed a hold on the construction in recognition of the need to perform an environmental study to analyze the real and present danger to the migrational path of the Caribou, if Caribou ever decided to migrate in this area.
Think this is silly? Try this: forii.blogspot.com