Marshall Point Light facts for kids
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 Marshall Point Light
Location in Maine
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| Location | Port Clyde, Maine |
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| Coordinates | 43°55′2.718″N 69°15′40.568″W / 43.91742167°N 69.26126889°W |
| Year first constructed | 1832 |
| Year first lit | 1858 |
| Automated | 1971 |
| Foundation | Granite blocks |
| Construction | Granite and brick |
| Tower shape | Cylindrical |
| Markings / pattern | White with black lantern |
| Focal height | |
| Original lens | 5th order Fresnel lens |
| Current lens | 12 inches (300 mm) |
| Range | 13 nautical miles (24 km; 15 mi) |
| Characteristic | fixed white |
| Fog signal | 1898: Bell 1969: Horn, 1 every 10s |
| USCG number | 1-4780 |
The Marshall Point Light Station is a famous lighthouse located at the entrance of Port Clyde Harbor in Port Clyde, Maine. Lighthouses are like giant flashlights that help boats find their way safely, especially at night or in bad weather. This light station was first built way back in 1832.
Contents
The Story of Marshall Point Light
Early Days of the Lighthouse
The Marshall Point Light Station was built in 1832. Its main job was to help boats get in and out of Port Clyde Harbor safely. The very first lighthouse was a tower about 20-foot (6.1 m) tall. It used seven special lamps that burned lard oil to create light. These lamps had reflectors to make the light brighter.
A New Tower and a Special Lens
In 1857, the original lighthouse tower was replaced. The new one is the lighthouse you see today! It's a 31-foot (9.4 m) tall tower made of white brick, sitting on a strong granite base. When it was first built, it used a special type of light called a Fresnel lens. This lens was very advanced for its time and could make the light shine much farther. A cool wooden walkway connects the tower to the land.
Changes Over Time
The Keeper's House and Fog Signals
Lighthouses need someone to look after them, called a keeper. The original house where the keeper lived was sadly destroyed by lightning in 1895. A new house, built in a style called Colonial Revival, took its place.
In 1898, more buildings were added. An "oil house" was built to store the fuel for the light. Also, a bell tower with a huge 1,000-pound (450 kg) bell was added. This bell would ring to warn boats when it was foggy. Later, in 1969, the bell was replaced with a loud fog horn.
Modern Times and Museum
The lighthouse became "automated" in 1980. This means machines took over the job of lighting the lamp, so a keeper didn't need to live there anymore. The old Fresnel lens was replaced with a modern light. You can now see the original Fresnel lens at the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland.
In 1986, a local group called the St. George Historical Society fixed up the keeper's house. They turned it into the Marshall Point Lighthouse Museum. Here, you can learn all about Marshall Point Light and other lighthouses nearby. Because of its history, the light station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
A Movie Star Lighthouse
Did you know this lighthouse is famous? It appeared in the 1994 movie Forrest Gump! It's the lighthouse Forrest Gump reaches at the end of his long run across the country.
In 1998, the light station was given to the town of St. George as part of the Maine Lights Program. The fog horn is no longer there, but the old bell is still on display for visitors to see.
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Marshall Point Light before 1895 with its first keeper's house
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The lighthouse and its wooden walkway
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A view from the access bridge
