Seguin Light facts for kids
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| US Coast Guard photo | |
 Seguin Light
Location in Maine
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| Location | Mouth of the Kennebec River, Maine |
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| Coordinates | 43°42′26.9″N 69°45′28.9″W / 43.707472°N 69.758028°W |
| Year first constructed | 1795 |
| Year first lit | 1857 (current structure) |
| Automated | 1985 |
| Deactivated | 2019 |
| Tower shape | Cylindrical Tower |
| Markings / pattern | White |
| Focal height | 180 feet (55 m) |
| Current lens | 1st order Fresnel Lens |
| Range | 18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi) |
| Characteristic | F W |
| Fog signal | HORN: 2 every 20s |
| Admiralty number | J0146 |
| ARLHS number | USA-746 |
| USCG number | 1-35 |
Seguin Light is a famous lighthouse located on Seguin Island. This island is in the Gulf of Maine, south of the Kennebec River in Maine. The lighthouse was first built in 1795. This makes it the second-oldest lighthouse along Maine's coast.
It is also special because it has the only first-order Fresnel lens in the state. A Fresnel lens is a special type of lens that helps make the light brighter and more focused. The current tower was built in 1857. Its light shines from 180 feet (55 m) above the sea. This makes it the highest lighthouse in Maine.
The lighthouse became automated in 1985. This means it no longer needed people to operate it all the time. Today, a non-profit group runs the lighthouse buildings as a museum. You can visit it during certain times of the year. A ferry takes visitors from Popham Beach in Phippsburg. In 1977, Seguin Light was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The light was turned off in 2019 because of a problem with its power cable.
Contents
About Seguin Island Light Station
Seguin Island is about 64 acres (26 ha) in size. It is located about two nautical miles south of Fort Popham. This fort is in the southernmost part of Phippsburg. The lighthouse station is built on the highest point of the island.
Buildings at the Station
The light station includes several buildings. There is the lighthouse tower itself. There is also the keeper's house, where the lighthouse keeper lived. Other buildings include a fog signal building and a small oilhouse. A special tramway helps bring supplies from the shore up to the station.
The lighthouse tower is made from cut granite blocks. It stands 53 feet (16 m) tall. Its base is 16 feet (4.9 m) wide. The keeper's house is made of brick. It has one and a half stories and a gabled roof. This house now holds a museum and a gift shop for visitors. The oilhouse and the fog signal building are also made of brick. The tramway uses wooden rails on timber supports.
History of the Lighthouse
The first light station was built in 1795. This happened because authorities in Massachusetts asked for it. At that time, Maine was part of Massachusetts. The very first tower was made of wood. It was finished in 1797.
A stone tower replaced the wooden one in 1820. Then, the tower you see today was built in 1857. Most of the other buildings on the island were also built around 1857. Seguin Light is the tallest lighthouse on the Maine coast. It is also the only one in the state that still uses a first-order Fresnel lens.
Recent Power Issues
The Coast Guard turned off Seguin Light in April 2019. This was due to a problem with the power cable that supplied electricity to the island. The lighthouse is waiting for a new generator. Eventually, it will get a more lasting solution, like solar panels. For now, the Coast Guard has put up a temporary solar beacon. This helps boats navigate safely.
