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Dice Head Lighthouse Fun Facts
Location: Mouth of Penobscot River
Closest City: Castine, Maine
Latitude: 44.38313 Longitude: -68.81848
Body of Water: Penobscot Bay
Open to Public: Yes
Station Established: 1829
Present Tower Activated: 1858
Status of Light: Deactivated, 1937
Tower Height: 30 ft.
Optic: Removed, 1937
Fourth Order Fresnel, 1854
Lewis Patent Apparatus, 1829
National Register Reference #: 73000240
Listing Name: Castine Historic District
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Set roughly in the middle between the Fort Point and Pumpkin Island lighthouses, the long-deactivated Dice Head lighthouse rests at the mouth of the Penobscot River near beautiful and historic Castine. The white, granite rubblestone tower with black lantern was built in 1829 at the direction of the Lighthouse Service along with the original, 1.5 story, wooden, colonial-cap keeper's residence.
At the direction of the Lighthouse Board, the lighthouse was updated in 1858. The tower was attached to keeper's quarters and a six-sided wooden structure was built around it. At the same time, the original Lewis Patent Apparatus was replaced with a fourth order Fresnel. A barn (1888) and an oil house (1895) were later added to the site. In 1907, the outer wooden structure was removed.
Originally built to serve the many lumber and clipper ships that kept Castine Bay bustling, the Bureau of Lighthouses ordered this light be deactivated in 1937 and replaced by a 27 foot, white, 8,000 candlepower, steel skeleton structure at the north side of the entrance to Castine Bay. The residence was severly damaged by fire in 1999. Fortunately the the tower was unharmed. The site is now owned and managed by the Town of Castine, which restored the keeper house and presently leases it as a private abode. This site is open to the public and is available for group tours by appointment (207-326-4502). Limited parking is available.
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