Inventory of Historic Light Stations--Maine--Mount Desert Rock Light

Inventory of Historic Light Stations
Maine Lighthouses

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MOUNT DESERT ROCK LIGHT

State: MAINE
Location: SOUTH OF MOUNT DESERT ISLAND
Nearest City: FRENCHBORO
County: HANCOCK
U.S.C.G. District: 1
Year Station Established: 1830

Existing Historic Tower:

Year Light First Lit: 1847
Is the Light Operational? YES
Date Deactivated: N/A
Automated: 1977
Foundation Materials: SURFACE ROCK
Construction Materials: GRANITE BLOCKS
Markings/Patterns: NATURAL W/BLACK LANTERN
Shape: CONICAL
Relationship to Other Structures: SEPARATE
Tower Height: 58
Original Optic: THIRD ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed: 1858
Present Optic: VEGA VRB-25 SOLAR POWERED
Year Present Lens Installed: 1993
Height of Focal Plane: 75
Fresnel Lens Disposition:
Has tower been moved? NO

Previous Tower(s):

1. Construction Date: 1830
Description: WOOD PCTAGONAL TOWER ATTACHED TO STONE DWELLING
Fate/Disposition: REPLACED W/GRANITE TOWER
2. Construction Date: N/A
Description:
Fate/Disposition:

Modern Tower? NO

Existing Sound Signal Building? NO (DISMANTLED)

Year Constructed:
Construction Materials: BRICK
Architectural Style: RECTANGULAR
Fog Signal Type: HORN/ORIG. BELL THEN WHISTLE

Existing Keepers Quarters? YES

Year Constructed: 1892
Number of Stories: 1.5
Architectural Style: COLONIAL DUPLEX
Construction Materials: WOOD FRAME

Other Structures: CISTERN, STORAGE BUILDING, BOATHOUSE (1895) WITH LAUNCHWAY

Current Use: ACTIVE AID TO NAVIGATION/WILDLIFE RESEARCH

Owner/Manager: COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC W/USCG ACCESS TO OPTIC

Open to the Public? NO

Web Site:

National Register Status: LISTED; Reference #88000155
Name of Listing: MOUNT DESERT LIGHT STATION
On State List/Inventory? NO; Year Listed:

HABS/HAER Documentation? YES ME-204 (MARO)

Miscellaneous:
TOWER DESIGNED BY NOTED ARCHITECT/ENGINEER ALEXANDER PARRIS; TOWER RAISED 10 FEET IN 1857 TO ACCOMODATE 3RD ORDER LENS; REPLICA OF LANTERN PLACED ON TOWER IN 1985

Last Modified: Fri, Apr 12 2002 4:29:02 pm EDT
JMP

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