Marshall Point Lighthouse
Port Clyde, Maine
Built in 1832
Marshall Point Lighthouse Photo Gallery
Location:
Marking the entrance to Port Clyde Harbor. The grounds, which also contain the lighthouse museum, are open to the public. Visitors are also allowed to cross the walkway to the lighthouse.
| Latitude: 43° 55' 03" N Longitude: -69° 15' 41" W |
Historic Stories:
In the 1800’s when Port Clyde became a busy shipping port for granite, timber, and fishing along with becoming a haven for writers and artists as it still is today, Marshall Point lighthouse was finally constructed in 1832 to accommodate traffic entering and leaving the harbor.
In 1895 the original lighthouse was destroyed by lightning and was rebuilt in the same location.
In 1935, Marshall Point was converted to electricity, and was automated in 1971. The lighthouse gained worldwide notoriety when it appeared in the 1994 movie Forrest Gump.
Today the keeper’s house is the Marshall Point Lighthouse Museum for visitors.
Check my book titled “New England Lighthouses: Famous Shipwrecks, Rescues, and Other Tales,” produced by Schiffer Publishing. In the book, you'll find a special series of amusing accounts from one of the last surviving lighthouse keepers, Paul Baptiste, who was Keeper at Monhegan Island Lighthouse, and how he would trade with the eager Keeper at Marshall Point Lighthouse who wanted to spend a day on Monhegan Island, so Paul and his family could enjoy a night over on the mainland. A win-win situation for all. |
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Places to Visit Nearby:
Port Clyde is still a fishing village and an artists haven with many galleries to look at, and has beautiful sunsets overlooking the harbor. The area itself is picturesque and out of the way down a long peninsula to the village of Port Clyde offering activities like hiking, biking, fishing, kayaking, sailing and golf.
The Marshall Point Lighthouse Museum in the keeper's house and the grounds are open to the public.
Port Clyde Kayaks offers tours around the harbor.
For those who are looking for a hands on education in marine life in the area, Herring Gut Learning Center is a non-profit marine education and resource center in Port Clyde.
The Monhegan Boat Line provides various nature tours and ferries tourists to Monhegan Island from the dock at Port Clyde.
Directions:
- From US Route 1 in Thomaston take Route 131 South to Port Clyde.
- At the main intersection turn left, then take a right immediately after the restaurant.
- The unmarked but paved Marshall Point Road will lead you a mile to a very small parking lot at Marshall Point Light.
Contact Info:
Marshall Point Lighthouse Museum
P.O. Box 247
Port Clyde, Maine 04855
Phone: (207) 372-6450
Local Boat Tours
Cruises mentioned below offer many types of cruises. Each provide special lighthouse cruises around Marshall Point Lighthouse. Contact info is provided to help you plan your special trips to New England’s shorelines. Enjoy!
Port Clyde Kayaks
Provide kayaking tours around Marshall Point Lighthouse and Muscongus Bay area.
Port Clyde, Maine
(207) 372-8100
Monhegan Boat Line
Ferry leaves out of Port Clyde to Monhegan Island, other tours also including a special local lighthouse tour.,
P.O. Box 238
Port Clyde, Maine 04855
Tel: (207) 372-8848
Fax: (207) 372-8547
www.monheganboat.com
barstow@monheganboat.com