Eagle Island lighthouse, Penobscot Bay, Maine
Located on a small island (there are 8 islands named Eagle in Maine) in East Penobscot Bay.
The 25 foot tall rubblestone tower was built in 1838 and never needed to be replaced. The pyramidal wooden fog warning bell tower dates from the same time. A wooden keeper's house was added in 1857 and a fourth order Fresnel lens was installed in 1858. Automated in 1959 when the Fresnel lens was replaced with 300 mm modern optic which flashes white every 4 seconds. In 1963 the Coast Guard destroyed all the outbuildings on this site to prevent vandalism. During this operation they lost control of the 1000 pound fog warning bell which fell into the sea. However, a local lobsterman located the bell and was able to tow and retrieve same, which is now displayed at a local museum.
One of the problems at this lonely site is the overgrowth of trees obscuring the light.
Eagle Island lighthouse, Penobscot Bay, Maine
Located on a small island (there are 8 islands named Eagle in Maine) in East Penobscot Bay.
The 25 foot tall rubblestone tower was built in 1838 and never needed to be replaced. The pyramidal wooden fog warning bell tower dates from the same time. A wooden keeper's house was added in 1857 and a fourth order Fresnel lens was installed in 1858. Automated in 1959 when the Fresnel lens was replaced with 300 mm modern optic which flashes white every 4 seconds. In 1963 the Coast Guard destroyed all the outbuildings on this site to prevent vandalism. During this operation they lost control of the 1000 pound fog warning bell which fell into the sea. However, a local lobsterman located the bell and was able to tow and retrieve same, which is now displayed at a local museum.
One of the problems at this lonely site is the overgrowth of trees obscuring the light.