Marshall Point Lighthouse, located at the tip of the St. George Peninsula in Port Clyde, Maine, is a beloved maritime landmark. Established in 1832, this lighthouse has served as a vital navigational aid for vessels entering Port Clyde Harbor.
The station gained additional fame when it appeared in the 1994 film Forrest Gump. Today, it remains an active light maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard, with the surrounding grounds open to the public for exploration and scenic enjoyment.
History of Marshall Point Lighthouse
The original lighthouse at Marshall Point was established in 1832, after Congress appropriated $4,000 to purchase four acres of land from Samuel Marshall for $120. The point was named for an earlier settler, John Marshall. The original 20-foot rubblestone tower was topped with seven lard oil lamps and 14-inch reflectors, and John Watts, a War of 1812 veteran, served as the first keeper. By the mid-19th century, the station was in poor condition, with badly cracked masonry and a leaking keeper’s dwelling. Congress appropriated funds for a new lighthouse, and in 1857 the current tower was completed, standing 31 feet tall with a granite lower half and a brick upper portion, equipped with a fifth-order Fresnel lens. A raised wooden walkway connecting the tower to land was built at the same time.
The original 1832 stone keeper’s dwelling continued to serve through the 19th century until June 1895, when it was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm, demolishing the roof, chimney, one window, and three rooms. The Skinner family, who lived there at the time, was unhurt and moved into a workshop while a new home was built. By November 1895, the present Colonial Revival-style wood-framed dwelling, distinguished by its gambrel roof, had replaced the original. Charles Clement Skinner, a Civil War veteran who served as keeper from 1874 to 1919, holds the record for the longest tenure of any keeper at a single lighthouse in U.S. Lighthouse Service history, an extraordinary 45 years. Over the years, the station added a bell tower with a 1,018-pound bronze bell from the Buckeye Bell Foundry in Cincinnati (1898), a telephone connection to a Port Clyde hotel (1898), electricity (1935), a fog horn that replaced the bell (1969), and full automation when last keeper Will Boddy departed in 1971. In 2018, the U.S. Coast Guard replaced the 300mm optic with a modern LED light backed up by battery power.
The St. George Historical Society began restoring the keeper’s house in 1986 and opened the Marshall Point Lighthouse Museum on June 30, 1990, with two of Keeper Skinner’s daughters, Marion (age 95) and Eula (age 99), cutting the ribbon at the ceremony. In 1998, under the Maine Lights Program, the Town of St. George officially took ownership of the entire light station complex, with the U.S. Coast Guard retaining only the operation of the light and fog horn. The light station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. From 2016 to 2019, the museum complex was expanded with authentic reproductions of the historic 18-by-25-foot Keeper’s Barn and Workshop, restoring the appearance of the property as it was during the keepers’ era.
Marshall Point Lighthouse Architecture and Design
Marshall Point Lighthouse is a striking cylindrical tower standing 31 feet tall, with a distinct black lantern room. The base of the tower is constructed from granite, while the upper section is made of brick. A wooden catwalk, added in 1857, connects the tower to the mainland, allowing for easy access from the keeper’s house. The keeper’s dwelling, built in 1895, showcases Colonial Revival architecture, featuring a gambrel roof and a classic New England aesthetic.
Initially equipped with a fifth-order Fresnel lens, the lighthouse transitioned to a 300mm automated optic in 1971, then to an LED light in 2018, both maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard. The original 1857 fifth-order Fresnel lens, removed in 1971 and long displayed at the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland, returned to Marshall Point in 2020 under a 10-year loan agreement with the Coast Guard and is now on display in the museum. The original 1898 bronze fog bell, replaced by a fog horn in 1969, was returned to the station in the 1980s and is also displayed on-site.
Location and Surroundings
Marshall Point Lighthouse is located in the fishing village of Port Clyde, at the southernmost tip of the St. George Peninsula. Overlooking both Muscongus Bay and Penobscot Bay, the lighthouse offers breathtaking ocean views, rugged coastal scenery, and an abundance of seabirds. Nearby attractions include the Wyeth Art Gallery, the Port Clyde General Store, and Monhegan Island, which can be reached by ferry. Visitors planning a midcoast lighthouse tour will find Pemaquid Point Light a short drive west, and Owls Head Lighthouse about 30 minutes north in Penobscot Bay.
Visiting Marshall Point Lighthouse
With a connected museum, Marshall Point Lighthouse is the perfect stop for any lighthouse aficionado. Learn more below.
Getting There
Marshall Point Lighthouse is accessible via Route 131 south from Thomaston, Maine. Upon reaching Port Clyde, visitors should follow Marshall Point Road to the lighthouse parking area. Free parking is available on-site.
Visiting Hours
The lighthouse grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset. The Marshall Point Lighthouse Museum, located in the 1895 keeper’s house, operates seasonally from Memorial Day through Indigenous Peoples Day. Hours vary, typically running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays.
Admission
Admission to both the lighthouse grounds and the museum is free, though donations are encouraged to support preservation efforts.
Guided Tours
While the lighthouse tower itself is not open to the public, the museum offers self-guided exhibits detailing the history of the station, the lives of its keepers, and local maritime industries such as lobstering and shipbuilding.
Visitor Guidelines
- Stay on designated paths and respect all barriers to preserve the historic site.
- Refrain from climbing on the lighthouse or walkway.
- Be cautious of tides and slippery rocks along the coastline.
- Dispose of trash properly and respect the natural surroundings.
Notable Recognition
Marshall Point Lighthouse holds several distinctions in lighthouse history and pop culture:
- Forrest Gump (1994): The lighthouse appeared at the end of Forrest’s cross-country run in the iconic film, where he stops at the wooden walkway and turns back. The scene was filmed at Marshall Point in 1993.
- Longest-Tenured Keeper: Charles Clement Skinner served as keeper from 1874 to 1919, an extraordinary 45 years, holding the record for the longest tenure of any keeper at a single lighthouse in the history of the U.S. Lighthouse Service.
- National Register of Historic Places (1988): Listed for its architectural and historical significance.
- Original Fresnel Lens On Display: The lighthouse’s original 1857 fifth-order Fresnel lens, removed in 1971, returned to Marshall Point in 2020 and is now on display in the museum, allowing visitors to see the very lens that guided mariners for over a century.
- 1898 Fog Bell: The original 1,018-pound bronze bell, cast at the Buckeye Bell Foundry in Cincinnati and used at the station until 1969, is still on display on the grounds.
Plan Your Visit
Marshall Point Lighthouse is a must-visit for history enthusiasts, lighthouse lovers, and photographers. Its scenic location, historical exhibits, and connection to Forrest Gump make it a unique and memorable destination. Whether visiting for a leisurely stroll, a history lesson, or a breathtaking view of Maine’s coastline, this lighthouse offers an experience rich in maritime heritage and natural beauty.