| |
|
Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse Fun Facts
Location: Rockland Harbor / Jameson Point
Closest City: Rockland, Maine
Latitude: 44.1033 Longitude: -69.0783
Body of Water: Penobscot Bay
Open to Public: Yes
Station Established: 1827
Present Tower Activated: 1902
Status of Light: Operational
Tower Height: 25 ft.
Optic: VRB-25, Current
Fourth Order Fresnel, Original
National Register Reference #: 81000067
Listing Name: Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse
|
|
In its natural state, Rockland Harbor was exposed to powerful inbound waves from Penobscot Bay. In 1881, the Lighthouse Board commissioned the construction of a breakwater to provide shelter to the many vessels regularly anchored in this harbor, which was customarily busy with ships hauling limestone out of the area to bigger markets. It took nearly twenty years to build but, once complete, the roughly mile-long breakwater itself became a hazard to shipping and needed to be clearly marked.
In 1902, a 25 foot, square, red brick, cylindrical lighthouse with black lantern was built at the end of the breakwater, replacing a pole light erected in 1888 at the end of a dock. The tower rests atop a brick fog signal building connected to one corner of the 1.5 story, red brick and white wood-frame, gambrel-style keeper's quarters. The site rests at Jameson Point on a square pier made of granite blocks.
The light station was automated in 1964 and was scheduled to be demolished by the Coast Guard in 1973. A pronounced negative public reaction to the planned removal of the buildings prompted the Coast Guard to let them remain. The Fresnel lens has been replaced by a VRB-25 aerobeacon that flashes white every 5 seconds. In 1998, ownership of the site was transferred to the Town of Rockland.
The American Lighthouse Foundation initiated a $250,000 fundraising effort in 1999 to renovate the the buildings, which had fallen into noticeable disrepair. In 2001, the site was leased to Friends of the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, a private, non-profit group that continues to perform maintenance and upkeep.
The light is still operational but the site is open to the public. On calm summer days, it can be accessed by walking the breakwater from the end of Samoset Road out to the lighthouse. It can also be seen from the ferries out of Rockland to Vinalhaven and North Haven.
Lighthouse Accessibility
- This lighthouse can be seen from Jameson Point in
Rockland.
- The site can be accessed by walking out on the breakwater
from the end of Samoset Road.
- The lighthouse can be seen via local boat tours.
|
|
|
