September‎ 25‎, ‎2023 – York, Maine

Difficulty: Easy

Parking: Sohier Park – 11 Sohier Park Rd, York, ME 03909

There is free parking at Sohier Park with an excellent view of the lighthouse.

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Overview:

The Cape Neddick Light stands on Nubble Island about 100 yards off Cape Neddick Point. It is commonly known as “Nubble Light” or simply “The Nubble.”

It is one of Maine’s most popular lighthouses. It rests on a small island just off the point of land occupied by York’s 3-acre Sohier Park. The Nubble Lighthouse is maintained and overseen by The York Parks and Recreation Department.

The Nubble Light has always drawn hordes of tourists, and is one of Maine’s most popular tourist attractions. Amazing views from the park, beautiful local scenery, and the rich history of the lighthouse make it one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world. Today an estimated half million people visit Sohier Park every year to gaze across the channel at the lighthouse.

Nubble Island (the land that the Cape Neddick Lighthouse actually sits on) is inaccessible to the public. However, Sohier Park provides spectacular views of the lighthouse and the surrounding area.

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History:

To protect the lives of sailors traveling by Maine’s rocky shores, the citizens of York petitioned the U.S. Government for a lighthouse. President Hayes spent $15,000 in 1874 to build a lighthouse on what he called a “nub” of an island. Several years later, the lighthouse opened on July 1, 1879.

In 1939, the U.S. Coast Guard took over the responsibility of running the state’s lighthouses. The Coast Guard took care of the lighthouse until 1987, when the lighthouse was equipped with automated lights, removing the need for a human operator. Shortly after, the Cape Neddick Lighthouse was quickly added to the National Register of Historic Places. A lease was also signed between the U.S. government and the Town of York in 1987 to guarantee the lighthouse’s regular maintenance. The lighthouse was handed over to York 10 years later.

Sohier Park, as currently configured, was acquired in three separate transactions. Two of the parcels of land were sold by William D. Sohier of Beverly, Massachusetts, to the Village Corporation on May 15, 1929 and June 20, 1929, for one dollar each. The Town of York acquired the third parcel, the island with the lighthouse and associated improvements, on May 15, 1998, from the United States of America. While the Town acquired the island and lighthouse in 1998, the Sohier Park Ordinance was amended only in May 2019 to expand the Sohier Park to include the island itself.

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Visit Overview:

Yes I know, this isn’t a hike. I decided to include it because it’s a cool spot to check out in between hikes. From time to time I like to include places that are fun to photograph and may be of interest to others.

At the time of my visit, I was dealing with medical issues that severely limited my stamina, strength and endurance. With that being said, I continued to get outside and walk as much as I could. That is why some of my recent hikes/walks are somewhat short and easy. 

On a road trip to Maine, I wanted to visit as many interesting locations as possible along the way. I had a list a mile long and wasn’t able to visit every place that I wanted, but still hit some really nice spots. I’m especially interested in historic structures and ruins, which includes stone towers and lighthouses.

The previous day, I visited three historic stone towers: Wright’s Tower, Slayton Memorial Tower and High Rock Tower. All three towers are in Massachusetts. 

When traveling along the coast of Maine, there are so many lighthouses to see, but so little time. We arrived at the Nubble Light about 10am on a cool and windy Monday morning. We walked about the small park taking photographs of the lighthouse from every angle. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area, or combined with other points of interest, a great road trip.

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Nubble Lighthouse:

Nubble Lighthouse is a well-maintained, colorful lighthouse with a two-story keeper’s house, and a 41-ft. tower rising 88 ft. above the high water mark. The distinctive red oil house was built in 1902.

The “Nubble” is a small, rocky island a short distance off the eastern point of Cape Neddick, about two miles north of the entrance to the York River and York Harbor. In 1602, explorer Bartholomew Gosnold met with local Indians on the island and dubbed it “Savage Rock.”

A small cable car runs from the mainland out to the island. A cable suspended on telephone poles were installed at both ends, and had platforms in place to load and unload whatever was needed. The “bucket” suspended from a cable from the mainland to the island, installed in the 1950’s, was not intended for the transport of people; it was intended for the transportation of supplies. Movement of the cable car was done by hand over hand, not by means of any electric motors.

Sohier (pronounced “Soy-er”) Park also features benches (and rock formations) with stunning views of the York area and beyond. A gift shop with Maine-theme merchandise, Fox’s Lobster House and an ice cream stand with picnic tables are located within the park.

The Nubble was home to more than 30 lighthouse keepers between 1879 and 1987. In 1987, it became the last lighthouse in North America to be automated. Even from a distance, Nubble Lighthouse stands tall, and majestically alongside the rocky Maine coast.

The light from the Nubble Light’s Fresnel lens is visible for 13 nautical miles in clear weather. The area saw many shipwrecks before Nubble Light was constructed. The wreck of the Isidore in 1842 is the most famous; her crew all perished. Since then, legend has it that a phantom ship continues to haunt the seas around Cape Neddick.

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Sources:

• Sohier Park – Property and Facilities Inventory (PDF)
• Cape Neddick (Nubble) Lighthouse
• History of Cape Neddick “Nubble” Light
• Why Should You Visit the Cape Neddick Lighthouse?

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