When I got across the border into Maine, I
stopped at the first tourist information center that I came to. The woman there was extremely helpful when I told her I was interested in seeing some lighthouses. She gave me lots of different maps, illustrations specific to the nearest ones, as well as, the excellent “Maine Lighthouse Guide.” I left carrying so much stuff that I must have looked like a kid on his first day of school.
I think I impressed the info lady with my
intimate knowledge of the immediate vicinity by asking for directions to the Whaleback Light – one that is generally NOT mentioned in the brochures. (I learned about it the night before on the internet!!)
Incidentally, even with maps and directions, New England seems to have a somewhat relaxed attitude about directional signs, so finding one’s way to some of the coastal lighthouses requires a combination of research, intuition, patience, and luck.
Off Fort Foster, just over the New Hampshire
border at Kittery is the Whaleback Light.
With this first experience, I realized that my digital camera without a telephoto lens was not
going to be adequate for those lighthouses that were located offshore. This actually turned
out to be an advantage, as I later saved time by skipping those that were too far out.
This building is on a separate little island. I believe
that it was a military barracks during World War II,
because the square cribs in the water were supports
from which anti-submarine nets and cables were
suspended to guard the harbor.
Whaleback Light was constructed in 1872 of unpainted granite blocks.
It was positioned to protect the Portsmouth, New Hampshire harbor.
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