Grindel Point Light facts for kids
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| Location | Ferry Rd., Islesboro, Maine |
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| Coordinates | 44°16′53.151″N 68°56′34.997″W / 44.28143083°N 68.94305472°W |
| Year first constructed | 1850 |
| Year first lit | 1874 (current structure) |
| Automated | 1934 |
| Deactivated | 1934-1987 |
| Tower shape | Square Tower |
| Markings / pattern | White |
| Focal height | 39 feet (12 m) |
| Original lens | 5th order Fresnel lens (original), 9.8 inches (250 mm) (current) |
| Range | 4 nautical miles (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl G 4s |
| Fog signal | Bell originally None now |
Grindel Point Light is a cool lighthouse located in Islesboro, Maine. It helps guide boats safely into Gilkey Harbor. This lighthouse sits on the western tip of the island. The first light station was built here in 1850. The tower and keeper's house you see today were built in 1874. The light was turned off in 1934 but then turned back on in 1987! It's an important historical spot, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the old keeper's house is a museum called the Grindel Point Sailor's Museum. You can even tour the lighthouse tower in the summer!
About Grindel Point Light
The town of Islesboro is on an island in Penobscot Bay, along the coast of Maine. The island looks a bit like two round parts connected by a skinny strip of land. Grindel Point is the westernmost tip of the island. The lighthouse stands near Ferry Road. It is also close to the dock where the ferry connects Islesboro to the mainland at Lincolnville.
What the Lighthouse Looks Like
The lighthouse tower is made of brick. It is square-shaped and gets a little narrower at the top. On top of the tower is a lantern house. This is where the light shines from. Around the lantern house is a metal deck with a rounded railing.
A covered walkway connects the tower to the keeper's house. This walkway is slightly below ground. The keeper's house is a rectangular building made of wood. It has a pointed roof. Nearby, there is a wooden boathouse. A small brick oilhouse is also on the property.
History of the Lighthouse
The United States Navy decided to build a light station here in 1849. The first tower and keeper's house were finished in 1850. These first buildings were made of brick. By 1874, they were in bad shape. So, the current lighthouse and keeper's house were built on the same spot.
The name "Grindel Point" comes from Francis Grindel. He was the second person to be the lighthouse keeper here. The United States Coast Guard thought about making the light automatic as early as 1923. This means it would run without a person living there.
People didn't like this idea, so it was delayed. But in 1934, the Coast Guard put a new light on a steel tower nearby. The town of Islesboro then bought the old lighthouse for $1,200. They turned the keeper's house into the Sailors' Memorial Museum.
After many people asked for it, the Coast Guard turned the light back on in 1987. So, Grindel Point Light is still helping boats today!
