Tenants Harbor Light facts for kids
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 Tenants Harbor Light
Location in Maine
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| Location | Southern Island, Tenants Harbor, Maine, United States |
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| Coordinates | 43°57′40″N 69°11′5.4″W / 43.96111°N 69.184833°W |
| Year first constructed | 1857 |
| Deactivated | 1933 |
| Foundation | Stone |
| Construction | Brick |
| Tower shape | Cylindrical tower, with attached dwelling |
| Markings / pattern | White with black lantern |
| Height | 27 feet (8.2 m) |
| Focal height | 66 feet (20 m) |
| Original lens | 4th order Fresnel lens, then 5th order |
| Range | 13 nautical miles (24 km; 15 mi) |
| Fog signal | Bell in square pyramidal tower Current tower is a replica |
| ARLHS number | USA-840 |
The Tenants Harbor Light, also known as Southern Island Light, is a lighthouse found at the entrance of Tenants Harbor in St. George, Maine, United States. This special lighthouse has appeared in paintings by famous artists Andrew Wyeth and his son Jamie Wyeth. They have owned the lighthouse since 1978.
Contents
History of Tenants Harbor Light
The Tenants Harbor Light was first built in 1857. It stands on Southern Island, which is on the south side of the harbor's entrance. It also marks the western side of the Two Bush Channel, a way into Penobscot Bay.
Lighthouse Features and Changes
The light itself was placed 66 feet (20 m) above the high-water mark. This means it was quite high up! Over time, the original lens was replaced. A smaller, fifth-order Fresnel lens took the place of the earlier fourth-order lens.
The lighthouse keeper's home was built in 1857. It is a 1½-story house made of wood, designed in the colonial cape style. A brick walkway connects the lighthouse tower to the keeper's house. Other buildings on the property include a storage building from 1895 and an oil house from 1906. There was also a boathouse and a fog bell. This bell was in a square pyramidal tower and was first operated by hand. Later, it became automated.
When the Light Stopped Working
The Tenants Harbor Light stopped being used in 1933. It was then sold off in 1936 because it was no longer needed by the government.
Tenants Harbor Light Today
In 1978, the famous artist Andrew Wyeth bought the lighthouse. His son, Jamie Wyeth, now owns it. Jamie Wyeth rebuilt the white square pyramid bell house. It is said to be a smaller copy of one of Lord Horatio Nelson's cabins from his ship, HMS Victory.
Lighthouse in Art
The Tenants Harbor Light has been featured in many paintings by the Wyeth family. Andrew Wyeth painted it in Fog Bell (1967) and Signal Flags. Jamie Wyeth has also painted it in works like Iris at Sea, Lighthouse Dandelions, The Gaggle (1995), Southern Island Sunset (1995), and Lighthouse.
The lighthouse and Southern Island are often subjects in the Wyeths' art. Some of these paintings are part of a special collection at the Farnsworth Art Museum. Jamie Wyeth has shared that the area around Southern Island truly inspires his artwork.
Private Ownership and Recognition
Tenants Harbor Light is one of only eight lighthouses in Maine that are privately owned. It does not have a formal support group. However, Maine is home to organizations like the American Lighthouse Foundation and Lighthouse Digest magazine, which support lighthouses.
Andrew Wyeth and the Tenants Harbor Light were celebrated in an article called Island Journal Turns 25 (2009). This article mentioned Andrew Wyeth's love for islands, especially those in Maine.
The Tenants Harbor Light was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 20, 1987. It is listed as "Tenants Harbor Light Station."
Visiting Tenants Harbor Light
The best way to see Tenants Harbor Light is from the water. You can take local lighthouse tours or longer boat trips from Camden or Tenants Harbor to get a good view.
You can also catch a glimpse of the lighthouse from the shore. Go to the public boat landing near Tenants Harbor. Tenants Harbor is south of 
State Route 1, east of Thomaston, Maine. Turn south onto 
State Route 131 and drive about ten miles (16 km). Then, follow Hartsneck Road to its end.
