Doubling Point Lighthouse
(Kennebec River Light)
Arrowsic, Maine
Built in 1898
Location:
On the Kennebec River at the northeast end of Arrowsic Island. Private residence. Best if viewed from one of the boat tours out of Boothbay Harbor.
Latitude: 43° 52' 58" N
Longitude: 69° 48' 25" W
Historic Stories:
Doubling Point Light, sometimes referred as the Kennebec River Lighthouse, was established in 1898 on a sharp double bend around Arrowsic Island on the Kennebec River, near the shipbuilding harbor of Bath. From 1898 to 1935 the station had only two keepers staffing the lighthouse itself.
The first keeper was Merritt Pinkham, who formerly had been a keeper at remote Seguin Island Light. He lived at the beacon until 1945 at the age of eighty-five. Charles W. Allen, who worked at Boon Island and Eagle Island lighthouses, became the station’s second and last keeper until 1935.
From 1900 to 1909, Maine shipyards produced nine of the ten original six-masted sailing schooners, the largest sailing vessels in the world. Seven of these giants would be built at the Percy & Small Shipyard in Bath, and two further up the Maine coast. This made Bath a world class shipbuilding center.
Note: For more historic details about shipbuilding in New England, select the "Building the Largest Sailing Ships" Blog link to be directed to my section of Lighthouse Stories.
In 1935, the keeper's house was sold to a private owner and the keeper at the Doubling Point Range Lights (Kennebec River Range Lights), Station a short distance away became responsible for both stations. Then from 1981 on, one keeper was assigned to look after the Doubling Point Range Lights, Doubling Point Light, and Squirrel Point Light.
| Over the years ice floes had washed down the Kennebec River each spring, crashing into the lighthouse’s granite-block foundation. |  Doubling Point Light |
With the foundation in desperate need of repairs, the Friends of Doubling Point Light raised $25,000 in donations, which was matched by a grant from the Kurt Berliner Foundation of New York, permitting the Friends to hire a local construction company out of Woolwich, Reed and Reed, to repair the foundation.
Doubling Point Light |
The rotting wooden tower and foundation at Doubling Point was repaired in 2000. |
Maine Open Lighthouse Day is an annual event each September allowing visitors access to various lighthouse towers, hosted by the Coast Guard. However, on Saturday, September 9, 2023, visitors were crossing the wooden walkway of Doubling Point Lighthouse before 1 p.m., when the section closest to the tower collapsed, spilling eleven into the muddy waters over rocks six to ten feet below during low tide. Fire and rescue officials were called in as six people were evaluated on the scene with minor injuries, and the other five were sent to the local hospital with more serious, but not life-threatening injuries. The lighthouse grounds were closed for the next year until repairs were made.
Places to Visit Nearby:
| Historic Bath is a leader in the ship building ports in New England. |  |
You can also visit the Maine Maritime Museum to explore and take in one their many types of lighthouse cruises and nature excursions. Other tours from the Bath area also pass by the lighthouse. Check out their lighthouse lantern room as an exact replica of Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse, to see exactly what the keepers did, in different types of new England weather. Captain Fish’s out of Boothbay Harbor has many tours weekly to the Kennebec River Lights.
After crossing the Kennebec River Bridge in Bath, travel down 127 and you’ll find a mile hike out through marked wooded trails to Squirrel Point Lighthouse.
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From Doubling Point Road you can reach the Kennebec River lighthouses. |
Ask permission first of the keeper who lines across the street by the Doubling Point Range Lights to explore either Doubling Point Lighthouse or the Doubling Point Range Lights across that street. They are very gracious and helpful.
| There are also plenty of boat tours out of Boothbay Harbor to view the lighthouse from the river. |  |
Stop at Reid State Park, which has the honor as being Maine’s first state-owned saltwater beaches, which stretch out over a mile. You’ll also find large sand dunes, sweeping views of islands and lighthouses, and lots of nesting birds.
Before going over the bridge at Wiscasset towards Boothbay, you’ll find Red’s Eats snack shack, just look for the line of visitors. Red's is best known for its packed tasty lobster rolls and fried clams. The building is an actual lobster shack, and has been a staple for visitors since 1938.
Driving Directions
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Be wary this is a private residence, better views may be obtained from one of the many tours offered in the area.
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From US Route 1 after you pass through Bath, cross over the bridge that goes over the Kennebec River
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Take Route 127 South for nearly 2 miles till you come to a dirt road on the right with the sign that reads "Doubling Point Rd."
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Proceed down the dirt road and take a left at the mailboxes (you're still on Doubling Point Rd)
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Then bear right at the fork to reach Doubling Point Light; if you bear left at the fork you will come upon the Kennebec River Lights or what are also known as the Doubling Point Range Lights.
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Both of these lights are in a residential area and the people who live at these places will probably allow you to take photographs. Ask permission first.
Local Boat Tours
Boat cruises mentioned below offer many types of cruises. During specific lighthouse cruises, they may pass by Doubling Point Light. They may also pass the lighthouse as part of charters, narrated wildlife and historic tours, fishing tours, and other types of excursions.
Maine Maritime Museum
Summer lighthouse tours along the Kennebec River, along with nature and Bath shipyard tours. Lots of maritime exhibits and workshops.
243 Washington Street
Bath, ME 04530
Phone: (207) 443-1316
Fax: (207) 443-1665
Cap'n Fish's Whale Watch and Scenic Nature Cruises
Includes lighthouses along the Kennebec River and Boothbay Harbor.
Boothbay Harbor, Maine
(207)-633-3244
(207)-633-2626
Or toll free 1-800-636-3244
River Run Tours
Chartered pontoon boat for lighthouse excursions.
River Run Tours, Inc.
28 Walnut Point
Woolwich, Maine 04578
(207) 504-BOAT (2628)
Maine Experience Guide Service
For those who prefer private chartered tours, away from crowded tour boats, join Captain Jay Farris and his crew as they provide personal lighthouse tours to nine lighthouses in the Boothbay and Kennebec River regions, including Doubling Point Light. There is also an extended tour of 11 lighthouses, depending on weather conditions and time constraints.
Captain Jay Farris
23 Commercial St.
Bath ME 04530
Phone: (207) 215-3828
Books to Explore
Available in paperback. |
New England's Haunted Lighthouses: Explore the historical mysteries surrounding the haunted lighthouses of New England! This image-rich book features ghost stories about spirits of devoted keepers who linger, victims of foul play or local shipwrecks, ghost ships, lost souls, and more, blending maritime history with the supernatural. Explore the tales linked with these iconic beacons! |
Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions of Northern New England: This book provides human interest stories from each of the 76 lighthouses in northern New England, along with plenty of coastal attractions and tours near each beacon. Look inside! |
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Available in paperback, hard cover, and as an eBook for all devices.
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The Rise and Demise of the Largest Sailing Ships: In the early 1900s, New England shipbuilders constructed the world’s largest sailing ships amid social and political reforms. These giants of sail were the ten original six-masted coal schooners and one colossal seven-masted vessel, built to carry massive quantities of coal and building supplies, and measured longer than a football field! In fact, most of these ships were built on the Kennebec River in Bath a short distance away from the lighthouse. |
