Squirrel Point Light facts for kids
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| U.S. Coast Guard photo | |
 Squirrel Point Light
Location in Maine
Squirrel Point Light
Location in the United States
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| Location | Kennebec River, Maine |
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| Coordinates | 43°48′59.483″N 69°48′8.572″W / 43.81652306°N 69.80238111°W |
| Year first constructed | 1898 |
| Automated | 1979 |
| Tower shape | Octagonal Wood Tower |
| Markings / pattern | White |
| Focal height | 25 feet (7.6 m) |
| Original lens | 5th order Fresnel lens |
| Current lens | 9.8 inches (250 mm) |
| Range | White 8 nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi) Red 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) |
| Characteristic | Isophase Red 6s with W sector |
| Fog signal | none |
| Admiralty number | J0156 |
| ARLHS number | USA-788 |
| USCG number | 1-6100 |
The Squirrel Point Light is a lighthouse located in Arrowsic, Maine. It stands on the southwestern tip of Arrowsic Island, right on the Kennebec River. Lighthouses like this one help guide ships safely.
This lighthouse was built in 1898. It was part of a big project to improve all the lights along the Kennebec River. At the same time, other lighthouses like Doubling Point Light and Perkins Island Light were also built. The Squirrel Point Light Station is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
Contents
What is Squirrel Point Light?
Squirrel Point Light is more than just a tower. It's a whole station! It includes the lighthouse tower, a house where the lighthouse keeper lived, a barn, a boathouse, and a place to store oil.
The tower itself is made of wood and has eight sides. At the very top, there's a special room called the lantern house. This is where the light shines from. The keeper's house is a two-story building with a unique roof shape.
How the Lighthouse Works
Lighthouses use powerful lights to help ships. The light at Squirrel Point is called an isophase light. This means the light stays on for the same amount of time it is off. It flashes red for 6 seconds, then is off for 6 seconds, and so on. There's also a white light section that helps guide ships in a specific area.
The light can be seen from far away. The white light can reach about 8 nautical miles (about 9 miles or 15 kilometers). The red light can be seen from about 7 nautical miles (about 8 miles or 13 kilometers).
History of Squirrel Point Light
The United States Congress decided to improve navigation on the Kennebec River in 1895. This led to the building of Squirrel Point Light in 1898. The oil house, where fuel for the light was stored, was added a few years later in 1906.
For many years, a lighthouse keeper lived at the station and took care of the light. But in 1982, the lighthouse became automated. This means machines took over the job, and a keeper no longer needed to live there all the time.
Location and Surroundings
Arrowsic Island is a large island located on the Mid Coast of Maine. It's surrounded by several rivers that are affected by the ocean tides. The most important river nearby is the Kennebec River. This river flows south from Bath, a city known for shipbuilding, all the way to the Gulf of Maine. Squirrel Point is right at the southwestern tip of Arrowsic Island, making it a perfect spot for a lighthouse.
Images for kids
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Squirrel Point Light with keeper's quarters
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From upriver
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From downriver
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The boathouse
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Daytime Squirrel Point Light with light on
