Historic Significance Score: 4
Guarding the entrance of Rockland Harbor, the 30 ft. tall Owls Head Light was established in 1825 mainly to aid vessels in transportation of lime which was a great industry for the town at that time.
There are many legends as to how Owls Head received its name. One legend states it received its named in 1759 by sailors who saw a resemblance of an owl's head in the rock formation that the present lighthouse sits on top with the two hollowings on each side of the formation constituting the owl's eyes.
Another legend states that the given name was from a variation of the Native American name for the location.
There are many great stories associated with this light!
The most unbelievable story occured in December of 1850 and involves an engaged couple, Richard B. Ingraham and Lydia Dyerin , who were trapped on a stranded ship in Penobscot Bay during a fierce winter storm. The couple stayed on the deck of the ship hoping to be rescued and eventually were engulfed in a block of ice, frozen alive.
The lighthouse keeper, William Masters, eventually reached them and brought the couple, completely encased in their coffin of ice, to his kitchen where he thawed them out to eventually a full recovery.
Another more heart warming story involved a lighthouse keeper's daughter's dog in the 1930's named "Spot" who used to greet ships as they past the light by pulling the rope to the fog bell with his teeth, prompting a ship's horn back as a friendly gesture in most cases.
During a blizzard a local mail boat was determined missing and Spot was sent out in the driving snow to ring the bell which was inactive due to the snow. Spot took it upon himself to bark loudly at the shoreline and substituted his bark for the fog bell. The mail boat eventually heard the barking dog and navigated its way to safe dockage. Spot in true final devotion was buried right next to his beloved fog bell.
Majesty Score: 4
For a smaller light, Owls Head has a very good majesty! Although the tower is only 30 feet tall, its majesty is aided by the fact it stands high on a rock formation that is nearly 70 feet tall giving it a focal plane for its lens of nearly 100 feet!
This location offers a really beautiful view of the lighthouse from the water for passing ferry travelers as the lighthouse stands erected and perched out of the highest tip of the rock formation giving a similar impression and look of a thick candle sticking out of a birthday cupcake!
Water View Score: 4
The water view from Owls Head Lighthouse is really nice. It does have its limitations though. A lot of the view is blocked by shrubbery preventing an open view, and the best water view would be at the base of the lighthouse but is prohibited to visitors. None the less is still is a great view! (see right)
Those lucky enough to access the view from on top of the lighthouse rock formation, at the base of the lighthouse, will be able to see the Rockland Breakwater Light with its nearly mile long, stone breakwater, as conversly you can also see Owls Head Lighthouse from the Rockland Breakwater Light..
Preservation Score: 3
Surprising the Owls Head Lighthouse does not really reflect that the caretaker is the US Coast Guard. The stairs, light and keeper's house show a good amount of wear as you can see in some of the pictures on this page.
This still shouldn't interfere or prevent you from enjoying this light.
Surrounding Area Score: 4
Owls Head was actually one of the nicer towns we visited driving up the coast of Maine. The town features some really beautiful houses sitting on an abundance of open property that was really attractive.
The lighthouse is situated in a State Park that has very good parking. This park is not a large though. There is a fork in the short path you walk upon where if you veer right on the path it will take you to the lighthouse. I strongly suggest you follow Robert Frost's advice and on the return trip from the lighthouse go down the other path. This path will lead you to a rocky beach that will give you the most photogenic shots of the light where the rust color cliffs reflect in the calm water and the light looks very majestic rising above the green pines trees.(see right)
The town of Rockland is only a stones throw away from Owls Head and is a really great stop! They have a great lighthouse there that sits at the end of a seemingly unending breakwater that is nearly a mile long to walk. This very quaint older town also has fantastic restaurants featuring fresh Maine Lobsters complete with bibs!
There is also the Owls Head Transportation Museum which is located a little south of Rockland.
Accessibility Score: 2
Here is the major draw back to Owls Head. The elongated stairway that leads to the lighthouse up the rock formation is closed off to the public.
You get a distant view of Owls Head from the bottom of this great stairway and this view is somewhat obstructed.
This is very similar to being a kid looking through the window of a candy shop. You will DEFINITELY want to go up their to get a closer view of the light and you will easily realize that there will be an awe inspiring view up there but it is frustrating because you are constrained. The view in the picture to the right is the same close up view you will have at the light when visiting in person.
Maybe one of the reasons they prohibit visitors from getting close to this light is that the station has an operational fog whistle that will blast every 20 seconds in fog conditions.
Beacon Score: 4
Owls Head has a constant white light serving as its signal and is very fortunate enough to still have the original 4th Order Fresnel lens that it was originally established with.
Overall Score and Overview: 25
Owls Head Lighthouse has been one of Maine's most popular lighthouses for tourist due to its charm and legends.
There is some frustration that accompanies the visit due to the lack of access visitors get to the light, but still worth a trip for lighthouse lovers and photographers alike! We would strongly suggest a dinner trip to Rockland as well.
Directions: Take 73 to Owls Head and make a left turn on North Shore Road. Stay on for a little more than 2 miles and make a left on Main St. Then take a quick left on Lighthouse Road and follow to the State Park.
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