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Libby Island Lighthouse Fun Facts
Location: Entrance to Machias Bay
Closest City: Machiasport, Maine
Latitude: 44.5684 Longitude: -67.3666
Body of Water: Machias Bay
Open to Public: No
Year Established: 1822
Present Tower Activated: 1822
Status of Light: Operational
Tower Height: 42 ft.
Optic: VRB-25, Solar Powered, 2000
DCB-224, 1974
Fourth Order Fresnel, 1855
National Register Reference #: 76000117
Listing Name: Libby Island Light Station
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Maine's third oldest light, the Libby Island lighthouse, holds the state record for the number of hours its foghorn was sounded in a single year. In 1918, the station's foghorn was active for 1,906 hours. Originally built in 1822 along with a wooden 1.5-story wooden keeper's house, the tower had to be rebuilt in 1824 after it collapsed due to poor construction. This light consists of a 42 foot conical granite-block tower with a black lantern. In 1849, a fog bell/tower was added to the station as well as an assistant keeper to tend to it. At some later point, two new houses were constructed for the keepers. The station's original lamps were replaced by a fourth order Fresnel lens in 1856. The fog bell tower was rebuilt 1867 and a new deck and lantern were installed in 1876. In 1884, a brick sound signal building was constructed and the bell was replaced by a Daboll fog trumpet, which was then replaced in 1891 by a steam whistle. An oil house was added in 1893.
In 1974, the Fresnel lens was replaced by a DCB-224 rotating beacon and the light was automated. The foghorn is automated as well and the only remaining other building is the oil house. A Coast Guard overhaul in 2000 restored the tower to its original granite facade (it had been painted at some point). A boat landing and retaining wall were also updated and the light was converted to a solar-powered VRB-25 optic.
Via the Maine Lights Program, the Libby Island lighthouse was turned over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is managed by the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge. In addition to presently being an active navigation aid, the site is a national wildlife refuge.
Lighthouse Accessibility
- The lighthouse is not open to the public and is best
seen by boat.
- The lighthouse can be seen rougly 4 miles offshore
from Jasper Beach (9 miles south of Machias on Rt. 92).
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