Owls Head Light facts for kids
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 Owls Head Light
Location in Maine
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| Location | Owls Head, Maine |
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| Coordinates | 44°05′31″N 69°02′39″W / 44.09194°N 69.04417°W |
| Year first constructed | 1825 |
| Year first lit | 1825 |
| Automated | 1989 |
| Foundation | Granite |
| Construction | Brick |
| Tower shape | Cylindrical |
| Markings / pattern | White with black lantern |
| Focal height | 100 feet (30 m) |
| Current lens | 4th order Fresnel lens |
| Range | 16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fixed white |
| Fog signal | Horn: 2 every 20s |
| Admiralty number | J0104 |
| ARLHS number | USA-574 |
| USCG number | 1-4105 |
The Owls Head Light is a working lighthouse that helps ships find their way. It stands at the entrance of Rockland Harbor in Owls Head, Maine, a town in Knox County, Maine. This lighthouse is owned by the U.S. Coast Guard. It is looked after by the American Lighthouse Foundation. The lighthouse is a main feature of the 13-acre Owls Head State Park. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
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History of Owls Head Light
The town of Owls Head is located south of Rockland. It has a piece of land that sticks out into Penobscot Bay. The lighthouse is found at the very end of this land.
Building the First Lighthouse
The Owls Head Light Station was first built in 1825. Jeremiah Berry and Green & Foster built the first tower. It was a round tower made of rough stones.
Changes and Upgrades Over Time
The lighthouse tower was rebuilt in 1852. It is now a 30-foot-tall brick tower. It sits on a strong granite base. The tower stands on top of a high cliff. The light itself is 100 feet above the ocean's surface.
In 1854, a separate house was built for the lighthouse keeper. This house is now the main office for the American Lighthouse Foundation. A special type of lens, called a Fresnel lens, was put in the lighthouse in 1856. This lens helps the light shine brighter and farther. Owls Head Light has one of the last six Fresnel lenses still working in Maine. Later, in 1895, a building for a generator and another for storing oil were added.
Recent Renovations
In 2010, the lighthouse got a big makeover. The tower was made to look just like it did in 1852. Workers repainted the tower and fixed the bricks. They also repaired the ironwork and windows of the lantern room. The floor around the top of the lighthouse was also fixed.
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Postcard view from around the 1930s
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The hill where the tower stands
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The view from the bottom of the tower
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