Little River Lighthouse
North Coast Maine

Little River Lighthouse Fun Facts Location:  Little River Island Closest City: Cutler, Maine Latitude: 44.6511     Longitude: -67.1926 Body of Water: Cutler Harbor Open to Public: No Year Established: 1847 Present Tower Activated: 1847 Status of Light: Deactivated, 1975                            Relit, 2001 Tower Height: 41 ft. Optic: VRB-25            Fifth Order Fresnel, 1855 National Register Reference #: 88000156 Listing Name: Little River Light Station  View Little River Lighthouse:  Accommodations  -  Boat Tours

The Little River lighthouse is located a short distance from the mainland town of Cutler on Little River Island at the entrance to Cutler Harbor. Little River ME Harbour Lights HL305 $65.00 Cutler, with a population of less than 800 and located on Maine's "Bold Coast", was a thriving community based on fishing and shipbuilding through the eigthteen-hundreds and early nineteen-hundreds. The lighthouse was first built in 1847 with a stone tower attached to a stone keeper's house (see picture above). A fifth order Fresnel lens replaced the original lamps and reflectors in 1855. In 1876, a 41-foot, white, cylindrical, cast-iron and brick tower was built and roughly the top half of the original tower was removed (see picture below). In 1888, a 1-1/2 story wooden L-shaped Victorian-style house was added to the site, which also has a boathouse (1881) and a brick oil house (1905). The station's fog bell tower has been demolished but the bell is still on display in Cutler. The station was operated by three Coast Guard personnel until 1973 when the crew was reduced to one. In 1975, use of the light was discontinued and replaced by a 41-foot automated skeletal structure. The property and buildings were offered for sale by the federal governement but the land was never sold. In 1998, Maine Preservation, a private non-profit organization committed to preserving Maine's historical heritage, added the Little River Light to its list of "Most Endangered Historic Properties". The property was victimized by neglect for 25 years until the American Lighthouse Foundation, a private non-profit organization dedicated to saving America's lighthouses and based in Wells, Maine, leased it from the Coast Guard in 2000. In 2002, the Little River Lighthouse became the first in New England to have its ownership transferred (to the American Lighthouse Foundation) under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000. The lighthouse was officially relit in 2001 after several years of restoration primarily by Foundation members. Additional work remains to be done but fundraising efforts are ongoing and managed by a chapter of the Foundation called the Friends of Little River Light. The station cannot be seen from the road and is best viewed via boat. Local boat tours are available that include the Little River Lighthouse.

Lighthouse Accessibility - The lighthouse is not open to the public and is best    viewed by boat.  View Little River Lighthouse:  Accommodations  -  Boat Tours View the Interactive Map