2011 Challenge
June 25th & 26th
What is the Midcoast Maine Lighthouse Challenge?
In a word, it is a ton of FUN!
Lighthouses, the sea and the great outdoors - enjoy the excitement and intrigue of these Maine treasures with family and friends, as you follow the lights by land and sea during the 2011 Midcoast Maine Lighthouse Challenge!
 The Midcoast Maine Lighthouse Challenge is a two–day self–guided driving tour of Midcoast Maine's lighthouses (Dyce Head, Fort Point, Grindle Point, Rockland Breakwater, Owls Head, Marshall Point and Pemaquid Point) and the Maine Lighthouse Museum, offering participants a once–a–year opportunity to visit and climb the towers of seven lighthouses in one weekend. Directions to and from each site will be provided in a commemorative booklet available at each location, where participants will also receive a complimentary memento associated with that site. Challenge volunteers will staff each location from 9am to 6pm (unless otherwise noted) to greet and assist you.
For those desiring more marine-related sites to visit, four additional activities are being offered. The first, as a kick–off to the Challenge weekend, will be to enjoy viewing six lighthouses from the water during a 4.5 hour sunset cruise, Friday, June 24th aboard the P/V Elizabeth Ann that will depart from Port Clyde at 4:30 p.m. and include views of Franklin Island, Pemaquid Point, Ram Island, Cuckolds, Burnt Island and Marshall Point lighthouses. Light refreshments will be available during the cruise.
Tickets for the cruise are $35 per person.
Tickets are non-refundable unless we are able to resell your ticket or the cruise is canceled.
Seating is limited: Make your reservations now by clicking here.
The U.S Coast Guard, modern day keepers of the lights and other aids to navigation, will provide the second unique feature of the Challenge, offering participants the opportunity to view an array of modern optics that serve in today's lighthouses and on other aids to navigation, as well as exhibits showing how the Coast Guard keeps the lights at many of Maine's offshore stations. The display will be available for viewing on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. The M/V Rendezvous will offer water passage to the lighthouse throughout the day, from the Middle Pier in Rockland.
 The third additional activity is to visit Maine's first maritime museum, the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport, celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2011 with two special exhibits: "75 for 75" and "The Art of the Boat". Other permanent exhibits include a large collection of classic Maine small craft, a meticulously restored and furnished 19th century sea captain's home, children's activities, ship models, marine paintings, and historic photography. Visit www.penobscotmarinemuseum.org for more information.
And finally, the M/V Betselma will be offering one-hour tours out of Camden Harbor throughout the Challenge weekend that include water views of Curtis Island and Indian Island Lighthouses. Tour times are 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $12 for children (10 and under), under 3 are free. Reservations can be made by calling 207-236-4446. Please arrive 15 minutes before departure. Identify yourself as a Lighthouse Challenge participant and the captain will endeavor to get you as close to the lighthouses as possible for the best water views.
This year we are also offering commemorative T–shirts on a pre-order basis only. Order yours by Friday, June 12 for them to be ready for pick up at the Challenge event.
Click here to order. Your order can be picked up on Friday evening, June 24th, if you are joining us for the lighthouse cruise out of Port Clyde, or on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the American Lighthouse Foundation Gift Store and Interpretive Center located at 464 Main Street in Rockland.
Please note: Any admission charges or fees are decided by the individual organizations that oversee each location or activity.
As it was the case last year, we offering an incentive for visiting all seven land-accessible lighthouses (Grindle Point included) and the Maine Lighthouse Museum. Complete the 2011 Midcoast Maine Lighthouse Challenge and be entered into a drawing to win two-night, double-occupancy, luxurious stay at one of the four Historic Inns of Rockland! All of the Historic Inns of Rockland are certified Maine Hospitality Environmental Leaders, and each is within an easy stroll of downtown Rockland and its harbor front, restaurants and museums. For more information about the Historic Inns of Rockland, visit www.historicinnsofrockland.com , or call 1-877-ROC-INNS.
To view or print the brochure promoting this event, click here (PDF software required). For information about and directions to each location of this year's Lighthouse Challenge, click here. For a list of recommended lodging in the area, click here. For more information about the 2011 Midcoast Maine Lighthouse Challenge, call 207-542-7574 or email: challenge@rocklandlighthouse.com.
LIGHTHOUSE CHALLENGE SPONSORS
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