Living in New England provides opportunity to visit many beautiful places. York Maine and its gorgeous coastline is 12 miles from home.
As you drive along the beach, you start to get a glimpse of the Cape Neddick Lighthouse or The Nubble as it is referred to by locals.
It is breathtaking during the warmer months and majestic when lit with holiday lights. If you ever plan a visit to the New England area, it should definitely be on your bucket list of stops.
The Nubble is surrounded by water, but you can see it up close and personal from Sohier Park which has parking and a gift shop. 🙂
History: In the colonial times, mariner traffic was pivotal to the growth of the area, but the rocks along the Maine cost were extremely dangerous.
In an attempt to protect the sailing vessels and the men and women on board, area citizens petitioned President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1874 to provide $15,000 for a light to mark the rocky shore. Construction was completed in 1879.
The Cape Neddick Lighthouse stands 41 feet tall, but the light is actually 88 feet above sea level because of the height of the steep rocks it was built on.
It was manned from 1879 until it was automated in 1987. The Nubble was then placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1997, the Town of York was granted permanent guardianship of the Nubble. Today the care and upkeep is managed by the Parks Department while the US Coast Guard continues to maintain the light and horn.
I think it’s funny to have a fence. Where would anything go on an island?
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Okay so I went to the source – Ryan at Maine Parks and Recreation Department
“The fence was installed in the 70’s by the family living there. They owned two German Shepards. My guess is the fence kept the dogs away from the steep cliffs surrounding the island.”
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Wow! Your sure are the fact checker!
I was kinda being punchy commenting on fence. . I guess I figured common sense would keep you from swan diving off!
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Beautiful! I envy you for being able to go from downtown Boston to Walden Pond to this lighthouse in the space of a day’s drive.
On my trips to NE I loved to imagine being a Pilgrim seeing that coastline for the first time. And for awhile, in grade school, my fantasy was to be a lonely lighthouse keeper – just me and my cat while I read through a mountain of Nancy Drew books!
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Beautiful!
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Lighthouses are so beautiful — love the pictures and the history lesson. I never thought your waves would be that high!
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Been there nice place. Have a great evening,
John
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Your part of the country is very beautiful Judy. There’s something compelling about lighthouses.
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Oh friend, I would love to live here…but there is a problem. How does a girl get to Tar-Jay every week to do her shopping☺
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Beautiful photos! I can nearly hear the waves crash and feel the breeze on my skin. I would love to visit there. There’s just something melancholic about lighthouses, though I’ve been to only one (the Splitrock Lighthouse on Lake Superior… when I was 8 or 9).
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That is really my idea of New England!
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The amazing shades of blues in these photos…breathtaking.
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