Little River Light facts for kids
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| US Coast Guard photo, no date | |
 Little River Light
Location in Maine
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| Location | Cutler, Maine |
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| Coordinates | 44°39′3.186″N 67°11′31.544″W / 44.65088500°N 67.19209556°W |
| Year first constructed | 1846 |
| Year first lit | 1876 (current structure) |
| Automated | 1974 |
| Deactivated | 1975-2001 |
| Tower shape | Cylindrical Cast Iron Tower |
| Markings / pattern | White |
| Focal height | 56 feet (17 m) |
| Current lens | VRB-25 |
| Range | 13 nautical miles (24 km; 15 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 6s |
| Fog signal | HORN: 1 every 10s operates continuously |
| Admiralty number | H4164 |
| ARLHS number | USA-432 |
| USCG number | 1-1075 |
Little River Light is a famous lighthouse located on an island. It stands at the mouth of the Little River in Cutler, Maine. This special place first had a light station in 1846. The lighthouse you see today was built in 1876. It's one of the few lighthouses in Maine made of iron. The Little River Light Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. Today, the American Lighthouse Foundation owns it. You can even stay overnight in the old keeper's house! They also offer tours sometimes.
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About Little River Light Station
The Little River is a waterway that flows into the ocean. It's on the coast of Down East Maine. The town of Cutler is on its north side. Little River Island is at the river's mouth. The lighthouse stands near the island's eastern tip.
What the Station Looks Like
The lighthouse station has several buildings. There's the main tower, the keeper's house, an oilhouse, and a boathouse. The tower is made of iron. It has a strong frame of steel and brick inside. The tower is about 35 feet (11 m) tall. At the top, there's an eight-sided lantern room. A metal balcony and railing surround it. You enter the tower through a small entryway with a sloped roof.
The keeper's house is where the lighthouse keeper used to live. It's a two-story building made of wood. It has an L-shape. The oilhouse is a small brick building with a sloped roof. It's set a short distance from the tower. The boathouse is a simple wooden building. It's located at the west end of the island. A wooden walkway connects it to the rest of the station.
History of the Lighthouse
The idea for a light station on Little River Island came about in 1846. It started working the very next year. The lighthouse tower you see today was built in 1876. The United States Army Corps of Engineers built it. The keeper's house was built in 1888. It replaced an older stone house. The boathouse was added in 1881. The oilhouse was built in 1905.
In 1916, the original lens was updated to a stronger one. In the 1960s, a new rotating lens was put in place. The light became automated in 1975. This meant it could work on its own without a keeper. A modern light was placed on a nearby steel tower.
Bringing the Light Back
In 2001, the lighthouse tower was leased to the American Lighthouse Foundation. This group worked hard to fix up the tower. They wanted the light to shine again from its original spot. On October 2, 2001, a new light was turned on. It was a special Vega revolving beacon. This happened after 26 years of darkness. Over 1000 people came to watch the ceremony.
The relighting happened shortly after the events of September 11, 2001. Because of this, the event was called a "Beacon of Freedom to the World." The keeper's house has also been fully restored. You can now stay overnight there! The property also has open houses during the summer months. This lets visitors explore the station.
