Standing sentinel on a remote, windswept island 25 miles off the Maine coast, Matinicus Rock Light has guided mariners since 1827. This historic granite tower earned fame through Abbie Burgess, the teenage keeper’s daughter who maintained the light through fierce storms in 1856 while her father was stranded ashore.

The lighthouse is not open to the public, and the island is difficult to access—visitors cannot climb the tower. However, the rock hosts one of Maine’s most important Atlantic puffin colonies, making boat tours from Rockland popular during summer months.

Best photography: Charter boats offer views during calm summer days, with dramatic lighting at dawn.

Nearby attractions: Rockland’s Maine Lighthouse Museum, Owls Head Light, and the Farnsworth Art Museum.

Explore Nearby

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• Owls Head Light State Park — State Park in Maine
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