Bear Island Light facts for kids
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| circa 1972 | |
 Bear Island Light
Location in Maine
Bear Island Light
Location in the United States
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| Location | Bear Island (Maine) |
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| Coordinates | 44°17′.6″N 68°16′11.6″W / 44.283500°N 68.269889°W |
| Year first constructed | 1839 |
| Year first lit | 1889 (current structure) |
| Automated | 1989 |
| Deactivated | 1981-1989 |
| Tower shape | Cylindrical attached to Work Room and Dwelling |
| Markings / pattern | White |
| Height | 31 feet (9.4 m) |
| Focal height | 100 feet (30 m) |
| Original lens | Original: 5th order Fresnel Current: Plastic |
| Range | 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 5s |
| Fog signal | Original: Bell Current: None |
| USCG number | 1-2105 |
Bear Island Light is a cool old lighthouse located on Bear Island in Maine. It stands near Mt. Desert Island, right at the entrance to Northeast Harbor. Lighthouses like this one help guide ships safely.
This lighthouse was first built way back in 1839. The structure you see today was put up in 1889. For a while, it stopped working in 1981. But then, a group called the Friends of Acadia National Park brought it back to life in 1989. Now, it helps private boats find their way.
Bear Island Light Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 14, 1988. This means it's an important historical site worth protecting.
Contents
History of Bear Island Light
The idea for Bear Island Light started in 1838. That's when President Martin Van Buren signed a law to build it. The government bought about 2 acres of land on Bear Island. In 1839, they built a stone house for the lighthouse keeper. The light was placed right on top of this house.
Changes Over Time
Sadly, the first structure burned down in 1852. A new brick tower was built the very next year. In 1855, a special Fresnel lens was put in the tower. This lens made the light much stronger. A fog station was also added in 1888 to help ships in foggy weather.
In 1889, the 1852 tower was taken down. Most of the buildings you see today were built at that time. The Coast Guard stopped using the light in the 1980s. They replaced it with a floating buoy that had a bell and a light.
A New Beginning
In 1987, the Bear Island property became part of Acadia National Park. The Friends of Acadia group helped fix up the station in 1989. They relit the light, and now it serves as a private aid for boats.
What Bear Island Light Looks Like
The lighthouse tower is made of brick and is shaped like a cylinder. It stands 31 feet (9.4 m) tall. A workroom with a sloped roof is attached to the tower. At the very top of the tower is a lantern room. This room has many sides and is surrounded by an iron railing.
The tower has two narrow windows. The workroom also has two windows and an entrance door. This door is how you get into the tower. The keeper's house is a simple, one-and-a-half-story building. It has a unique gambrel roof with dormer windows sticking out.
Other Buildings at the Station
The light station also has three other buildings. The biggest one is a barn with a sloped roof. It's set a little distance from the keeper's house and tower.
Near the barn is a small stone oil house. This building was constructed in 1905. It was used to store the oil needed for the light. To the northwest of the tower, you'll find the station's boathouse and slip. The boathouse is made of wood with shingled sides. It also has a sloped roof and was built in 1905.
