Bass Harbor Light
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Bass Harbor Quick Facts
Year Station Established: 1858
Is the Light operational? Yes
Year Light First Lit: 1858
Year Automated: 1974
Shape: Cylindrical
Tower Height: 32 ft.
Original Optic: 5th Order, Fresnel
Present Optic: 4th Order, Fresnel
Existing Keepers Quarters? Yes
Year Constructed: 1858
Number of Stories: 1.5
Architectural Style: T-Shape
Construction Materials: Wood
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Bass Harbor Lighthouse
Mt Desert Island, ME
More Photos
(14 photos, 358KB total download)
Bass Harbor Lighthouse Videos
[Video]
[Video 2]
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Last Visited: September, 2009
History:
Bass Harbor Head Light is a lighthouse located within Acadia National Park on the southeast corner of Mount Desert Island, Maine, marking the entrance to Bass Harbor and Blue Hill Bay.
The history of Bass Harbor Head Light started in 1855 when it was deemed that there was sufficient reason for a lighthouse at the mouth of Bass Harbor. $5000 was appropriated by Congress for its construction in 1858. The construction of a fog bell and tower, which no longer remains today, was completed in 1876 with a much larger 4000 pound (1800 kg) bell being placed inside the tower in 1898. The keeper's house remains in its original configuration with the exception of a 10-foot addition that was added in 1900. The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places as Bass Harbor Head Light Station on January 21, 1988.
In 1902, an oil storage house constructed of brick was built 205 feet northwest of the lighthouse.
Bass Harbor's fifth order Fresnel lens was replaced in 1902 with a larger fourth order. This lens was manufactured by the French company Henry-Lepaute. This lens remains in service today.
Today, the house is a private residence for a local Coast Guard member and his family. Tourists can get close to the bell and light via a concrete path, but most of the grounds remain private. There is a short walk which takes you to a series of wooden steps that lead you down onto the many granite boulders that provide a great view of the harbor side of the lighthouse.
Source:
Wikipedia
Hours:
The grounds surrounding the lighthouse and keepers house are open year-round from 9am-sunset. The house and tower are not accessible.
Latitude/Longitude: 44.222150 -68.336900
Nearest Address: Lighthouse Rd, Tremont, ME
Directions:
- From Ellsworth follow Route 3 south onto Mt. Desert Island
- Once over the small bridge onto the island, bear right onto Route 102.
- Follow Route 102 for 13 miles through Somesville and Southwest Harbor.
- Bear left onto Route 102A. Follow 102A to the entrance of the Bass Harbor Light Station.
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