Indian Island Light facts for kids
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 Indian Island Light
Location in Maine
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| Location | Rockport, Maine |
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| Coordinates | 44°9′55.55″N 69°3′39.92″W / 44.1654306°N 69.0610889°W |
| Year first constructed | 1850 |
| Year first lit | 1875 (current structure) |
| Deactivated | 1934 |
| Tower shape | Square Brick Tower |
| Markings / pattern | White |
| Original lens | 4th order Fresnel lens |
The Indian Island Light is a lighthouse located on Indian Island. This island is found at the entrance to Rockport Harbor in Maine.
This lighthouse was first built in 1850. The building you see today was put up in 1875. It stopped being an active lighthouse in 1934. Now, it is a private home. The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. It is known there as the Indian Island Light Station.
Contents
What is Indian Island Light?
The town of Rockport is on the coast of Penobscot Bay in central Maine. Its harbor is protected by a piece of land called Beauchamp Point. Indian Island is the biggest island in a small group that stretches south from this point. It is about 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) in size.
The Indian Island Light is located at the very southern tip of Indian Island. A lighthouse station usually includes several buildings. This one has a tower, a house for the keeper, a shed, and a special building for oil.
The Lighthouse Tower
The lighthouse tower is made of brick. It is square and gets a little narrower as it goes up. At the top, there is a square room called a lantern house. This room holds the light. Around the lantern house, there is a walkway with a railing. A small workroom sticks out from the south side of the tower. It has a sloped roof.
Other Buildings at the Station
The keeper's house is just south of the tower. It is a one-and-a-half story building. The original part was built in 1850 from brick. Later, a wooden part was added to it.
To the east of the tower, there is a large shed. This shed is made of two parts joined together. One part has vertical wooden boards, and the other has shingles.
Northwest of the tower, you can find a small brick building. This was the oil house, where the oil for the lighthouse lamp was stored safely.
History of the Light
The Indian Island Light Station was approved and built in 1850. It was very important for guiding ships into Rockport harbor. At that time, Rockport was a busy place for building ships and processing lime rock.
The first light was actually placed on top of the keeper's house. In 1856, a special Fresnel lens was installed. This type of lens helps make the light much brighter and more focused.
The light was turned off in 1859 but started again in 1861. The current brick tower was built between 1874 and 1875. The oil house was added later, in 1904.
The United States Coast Guard sold the property in 1932. The light was officially turned off in 1934. Today, the entire lighthouse station is owned by private individuals.
