Burnt Coat Harbor Light facts for kids
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| Location | Blue Hill Bay, Maine |
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| Coordinates | 44°08′03.2″N 68°26′50.2″W / 44.134222°N 68.447278°W |
| Year first constructed | 1872 |
| Automated | 1975 |
| Tower shape | Square Brick Tower |
| Markings / pattern | White |
| Focal height | 75 feet (23 m) |
| Range | 9 nautical miles (17 km; 10 mi) |
| Characteristic | Oc W 4s |
| Fog signal | none |
The Burnt Coat Harbor Light Station is a historic lighthouse on Swan's Island, Maine. It stands on Hockamock Head, right at the entrance to Burnt Coat Harbor. This lighthouse was built in 1872. It is a great example of a well-preserved light station from the 1800s. The station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
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What Does the Light Station Look Like?
The Burnt Coat Harbor Light Station has a main tower and three other buildings. These are the keeper's house, a bell house, and an oil house. They are all located on about 3 acres of land at the very tip of Hockamock Point.
The Lighthouse Tower
The lighthouse tower is made of square bricks. It stands about 32 feet (9.8 meters) tall. At the top, there's a ten-sided room called the lantern chamber. This room holds the light. An iron walkway with a railing goes around the lantern chamber. A round vent sits on top of the tower.
Other Important Buildings
The keeper's house is where the lighthouse keeper and their family lived. It's shaped like an "L" and is made of wood. It's painted white.
Close to the tower, you'll find the bell house. This small building is almost square. It has a sloped roof and a door at one end. It used to hold a bell for foggy weather.
The oil house is a small brick building. It has a door at one end and a small vent on its roof. This building was used to safely store the oil that fueled the lighthouse lamp.
History of the Light Station
The plan to build this light station was approved in 1871. The main tower and the keeper's house were finished the next year, in 1872.
Changes Over Time
Originally, the station had a second, smaller light. This light was located where the bell house is now. A covered walkway connected the two towers. However, this second tower and the walkway were removed in 1884.
The bell house was built later, in 1911. The oil house was added in 1895. In 1975, the lighthouse became "automated." This means machines took over the work, and a keeper no longer needed to live there.
Visiting Today
Today, the Town of Swan's Island takes care of the keeper's house. They get help from a group called Friends of the Swan's Island Lighthouse. During the summer, you can visit the keeper's house. It has a historical exhibit and a small art gallery.
You can also climb the lighthouse tower on certain days each week. If you want to learn more, you can visit the official website: www.burncoatharborlight.com. The website has more history, live webcams, and tips for visiting.
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