PAGE 2 TOURIST NEWS, AUGUST 31, 2017 Shops Maine Lighthouses Welcome Visitors for Tours Viewing at least one of the lighthouses that dot the century. Sixty-five still stand. There are more lighthouses Maine coastline is on every visitor’s to-do list, and the in Maine than in any other state, except Michigan and state’s Open Lighthouse Day makes it easy to learn more New York, and more coastal lighthouses than anywhere Renee’s Cat & Dog Gifts about these iconic symbols of Maine. in the nation. Open daily 9–6 Intended to increase awareness of Maine’s maritime Lighthouse preservation is very strong in Maine. The Pet items & gifts, clothing, heritage and the rich history of its lighthouses and light- Maine Lights program, passed by Congress in 1996, led garden, jewelry, nautical, house keepers, Open Lighthouse Day is the largest event to the transfer of 28 lighthouses from the Coast Guard to candles and antiques of its kind in the country. It attracts between 15,000 to local preservation groups or other agencies and served 18,000 visitors each year and offers the general public as a model for the National Historic Lighthouse Pres- Locally made the rare opportunity to explore and learn about more ervation Act of 2000. cat & dog treats! than two dozen historic Maine lights. Except for eight privately owned towers, all but a hand- 207-646-2390 Maine’s eighth annual Open Lighthouse Day will ful of Maine’s lighthouses now have local support groups. 21 South St., Wells take place on Saturday, September 9, when the Coast In addition, two powerful national forces for lighthouse off Rte. 1, near the IGA Guard, in partnership with the State of Maine and the preservation, the American Lighthouse Foundation and American Lighthouse Foundation, will open lighthouses Lighthouse Digest magazine, are based in Maine. www.reneescatanddoggiftshop.com for the public to visit and tour, rain or shine. Hours are While all Maine lighthouses cannot be opened to the from 9 AM to 3 PM, except if otherwise noted. public for safety and accessibility reasons, those that Some lighthouses have limited, timed entry, and are opened will provide a chance to showcase the long- garden decorations folk art & primitives some have age or height restrictions for climbing the lasting partnerships they have shared with the Coast light tower. Visitors must find their own transportation Guard for over 200 years. wrought iron & tinware to get to the lighthouses. Additional information on all of Maine’s lighthouses Known as the “Lighthouse State,” Maine had at least and a detailed list of the lighthouses that will be open on 70 lighthouses guiding mariners by the turn of the 20th September 9 can be found at www.lighthouseday.com. Lighthouses in Southern Maine That Will Participate in Open Lighthouse Day It was dubbed “the available. Climbing restric- style of the period and is 54 er on the Har bug” because of its small tions: To climb the 26-foot feet high. mmOpen daily 10 am - 5 pm bor Portland Breakwater size (30 feet). It is on the tower, small children must The lighthouse is ac - Su Light, So. Portland National Register of His- be accompanied by an adult. cessible by a 900-foot-long closed Tuesdays • Sunday 11-4 handcrafted country gifts toric Places. In 1942, the The lighthouse is owned breakwater built in 1951. The Country Peddlar Shop Portland Breakwater light was extinguished to by the city of South Port- The jetty connects the light- Harbor Rd., Wells (just off Rte.1 at the Fire Station) 646-6576 Light, also known as Bug protect the harbor during land and is part of Bug house to the Portland Har- Light, in South Portland, World War II; it was reac- Light Park, located at the bor Museum, which lies guards Portland Harbor. tivated in 2002. end of Broadway, near within old Fort Preble, Bug Light was erected in There is free parking Spring Point Marina. located on the campus of 1855 as a wooden tower and nearby at Bug Light Park; The park includes a Southern Maine Commu- in 1875 was rebuilt in cast it is possible to walk to the walking path, the Liberty nity College on Fort Road. iron to resemble a 4th cen- tower. Open Lighthouse Ship Memorial and Cush- Spring Point Ledge tury BC Greek monument Day hours are from 9 AM to ing’s Point House museum. Trust, owner of the light- with six Corinthian columns. 3 PM; guided tours will be To reach the park, take house since 1998, offers Route 77 south into South self-guided tours of the Portland, go east on Broad- tower and living quarters way, then left on Pickett, for $5 per person on sum- which becomes Madison mer weekends and free of Street and leads to the park. charge from 9 AM to 3 PM on Open Lighthouse Day. Climbing restrictions: Spring Point Ledge Visitors must be at least Light, So. Portland 51 inches tall to climb the tower. The climb involves Spring Point Ledge narrow stairs and requires Lighthouse in South Port- passing through small land sits on the west side of hatches. Tennis or hiking the shipping channel into shoes are recommended. Portland Harbor; the light Portland Breakwater Light, also known as Bug Light, in South began shining in 1897. It is Maine Lighthouses Portland, was rebuilt in cast iron to resemble a Greek monument. typical of the “spark plug” continued on page 3 THE TOURIST NEWS is published April through November and is distributed FREE at 450 locations in Kittery, York, Ogunquit, Wells, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Cape Porpoise, Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach and Portland. STAFF Publisher and Editor – Judith Hansen Contributing Writers – Steve Hrehovcik, Val Marier, Dan Marois, Anita Matson, Nancy McCallum Calendar Editor – Donna Landau Graphic Design – Geraldine Aikman, Eric Erwin Technical Support – Justin King ADDRESS/CONTACT 179 Cat Mousam Rd., Kennebunk, ME 04043 ANNAH Tel. 207-985-2244 • 207-294-2244 Small important luxuries E-mail: [email protected] D Web site: www.touristnewsonline.com 123 Ocean Avenue • Kennebunkport • 207-967-8640 © The Tourist News, Inc., 2017 TOURIST NEWS, AUGUST 31, 2017 PAGE 3 It has a white coni- The ticket can only be cal tower and a Victorian used during the time pe- Shops keeper’s house, which is riod printed it. Visitors now a museum. Sitting at must be at least 48 inches the entrance to Portland tall to climb the tower and Harbor, the lighthouse be able to climb 85-plus 207-985-7892 Tues–Sat 10–5 surveys more than 200 steps unassisted. Great islands. The museum at Portland It is located within Fort Head Light offers a gift Prices! Williams Park, off Shore shop and exhibits of arti- FRESH START Road in Cape Elizabeth. facts, documents, naviga- The park is open to the tional aids, Fresnel lenses, WOMEN’S CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE public, free of charge, sun- models and photographs. Open Sundays 10-2 rise to sunset, year-round. FMI 799-2661 or www.port- Memorial Day to Labor Day Spring Point Light, South Portland photo by R. Dennis The tower will be open landheadlight.com. on Open Lighthouse Day, 29 Main St., Kennebunk • www.freshstartboutique.com Maine Lighthouses The old tower, built of but access is limited. Ap- Consignments accepted by appointment only continued from page 2 rubble stone, still stands as proximately 280 free tickets Wood Island Light one of the four Colonial era will be made available to Biddeford Snacks, refreshments lighthouses that have never visitors on a first-come, and lighthouse-related been rebuilt. first-served basis. Wood Island Light in gifts are available for pur- With its distinctive red Twelve tickets will be Biddeford can be seen from Your Lighthouse Gift Shop! chase. roof and classic rockbound given out for 15-minute East Point Sanctuary at the The lighthouse is an setting, it is probably Maine’s periods from 9 AM to 3 active Coast Guard aid to most famous and most pho- PM. Each ticket will show Maine Lighthouses navigation and is the only tographed lighthouse. an admission time. continued on page 4 caisson-style lighthouse in the United States that visi- tors can walk to. Spring Point Ledge has been an integral part of the history of Portland Harbor and Casco Bay since 1897. FMI 699-2676 or www. springpointlight.org. Calendars by Lang Votive Lighthouse-themed home décor Candle Holders Portland Head Light gifts and greeting cards! Cape Elizabeth Portland Head Light, in Cape Elizabeth, built in 1791, was commissioned by George Washington and was the country’s first 45 Portland Rd. • Shoppers Village • Kennebunk lighthouse to be built un- 207-985-2087 • www.mailitunlimited.com Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth photo by R. Dennis der the new government. Hours: M-F 8:30-6, Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-4 Mon. – Sat. 7:30-5 Port Hardware Sun. 9-1 Assembled Weber Grills FREE local delivery Grill covers, grates, burners, ignitors, brushes & cooking accessories Rte. 35 • Kennebunk Lower Village • 207- 967-2371 Castaways at Compass Pointe SAV E MOR E. LIVE MORE. 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