Prospect Harbor Point Light facts for kids
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| USCG photo of 1891 structure | |
 Prospect Harbor Point Light
Location in Maine
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| Location | Prospect Harbor, Maine |
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| Coordinates | 44°24′11.7″N 68°0′46.4″W / 44.403250°N 68.012889°W |
| Year first constructed | 1850 |
| Year first lit | 1891 (current structure) |
| Automated | 1951 |
| Deactivated | 1859-1870 |
| Tower shape | Conical Tower |
| Markings / pattern | White |
| Focal height | 42 feet (13 m) |
| Range | 9 nautical miles (17 km; 10 mi) & 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl R 6s with 2 W sectors |
| Fog signal | none |
| USCG number | 1-1785 |
The Prospect Harbor Point Light is a historic lighthouse located in Prospect Harbor, Maine. It stands on Prospect Harbor Point, which separates Sand Cove from the Inner Harbor. This lighthouse helps guide ships safely into the harbor.
The first lighthouse here was built in 1850. The structure you see today was built later, in 1891. This lighthouse is also known as Prospect Harbor Light. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
Contents
History of Prospect Harbor Light
Lighthouses are very important for guiding ships. They help sailors know where they are and avoid dangerous areas, especially at night or in bad weather.
Early Years and Deactivation
The idea for a light station at Prospect Harbor was approved by the United States Congress in 1847. The first lighthouse started working in 1850. At that time, Prospect Harbor was a busy place with many fishing boats.
However, the light was turned off in 1859. The United States Lighthouse Board thought it was not needed. They believed the harbor was not used by ships seeking shelter during storms. But the light was turned back on in 1870.
Rebuilding and Automation
In 1891, the entire light station was rebuilt. The tower and the keeper's house that stand today are from this time. A small brick building for storing oil was added in 1905.
The light became "automated" in 1934. This means machines took over the job of lighting the lamp. Even so, lighthouse keepers stayed at the station until 1951. That year, the old Fresnel lens was replaced with newer, modern lights.
The station was repaired and updated in the early 2000s. It is still an active "aid to navigation" today. This means it continues to help guide boats safely.
Design of the Lighthouse
The first lighthouse tower, built in 1848, was made of rough stone. This original tower was replaced in 1891 by the current one.
The Lighthouse Tower
The present tower is round and made of wood. It is about 38 feet (12 m) tall. The outside is covered with wooden shingles. At the very top, there is a lantern house. This is where the light shines from. It has a roof with many sides and an iron walkway around it with a railing.
The main door to the tower is on the north side. There is also a window on the west side. When it was first built, a covered walkway connected the tower to the keeper's house. This walkway has since been removed.
Keeper's House and Other Buildings
The keeper's house is a two-story building made of wood. The top floor is covered in shingles, and the first floor has clapboard siding. A porch stretches across part of the front of the house. It has four square posts and a slatted railing. The porch roof is part of the main roof of the house. A dormer, which is a window set into the roof, sticks out from the porch roof.
A short distance north of the house and tower is a small brick building. This was the oilhouse, used for storing the oil that fueled the lighthouse lamp in earlier times.
Images for kids
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USCG photo of 1850 structure
