Year first constructed 1830 Automated 1963 Construction Granite blocks Range 25,928 m Added to NRHP 23 March 1988 Nearest city Kittery Point | Year first lit 1872 (current tower) Foundation Stone / timber Opened 1830 Focal height 18 m Current len VRB-25 | |
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Location Piscataqua River entrance, Kittery, Maine Similar Portsmouth Harbor Light, Cape Neddick Light, Rockland Harbor Breakwat, Boon Island Light, Wood Island Light | ||
Maine coast wood island and whaleback light
Whaleback Light is a historic lighthouse marking the mouth of the Piscataqua River between New Castle, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine. It is located on a rocky outcrop offshore southwest of Fort Foster and south of Wood Island in Kittery. A light has been active at this location since 1820; the present tower was built in 1872. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
Contents
- Maine coast wood island and whaleback light
- Map of Whaleback Light Maine USA
- Visit to whaleback lighthouse
- History
- Keepers
- References
Map of Whaleback Light, Maine, USA
Visit to whaleback lighthouse
History
The station (known in early records as "Whales Back") was first established in 1820. In 1829, a replacement was built for $20,000. The tower was upgraded in 1855 with a new lantern and a fourth order Fresnel lens. A fog bell and tower were installed in 1863. In 1869, storms had caused cracks in the tower and foundation causing the decision to build a new tower in 1872. The new tower, still standing today, was built with dovetailed granite blocks alongside the original tower, which was removed in 1880. The light is 59 feet (18 m) above mean sea level, and the tower, also housed the keeper's living quarters and a storage area.
At some point the fog bell was replaced with a horn and in 1991, the volume of the horn was reduced because it was damaging the integrity of the structure. The light was automated in 1963.
The current lighthouse exhibits two white flashes every 10 seconds and is created by a modern VLB-44 LED light, which was installed in October 2009.
In 2007, under the National Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000, Whaleback lighthouse was made available to a suitable new steward. The American Lighthouse Foundation and its chapter Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses submitted an application and in November 2008, became the new owners.