Location: York County, Maine
Boon Island Lighthouse
(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
Coordinates: 43 07 18 N 70 28 36 W
Overview:
It may be six miles out to sea, but the allure of Boon Island Lighthouse remains as strong as ever for coastal communities like York, Maine, and lighthouse enthusiasts everywhere.
Two centuries after the first lighthouse was established on Boon Island in 1811, a sentinel still stands a lonely vigil at this wave-swept location.
Quick Lighthouse Facts:
- Year Built: 1855
- Height of Tower: 137 feet
- Description: Gray granite, conical tower showing a flashing white light every 5 seconds that is visible 19 nautical miles. The light station is equipped with a fog horn that sounds one blast every 10 seconds. – Reference: 2005 U.S. Coast Guard Light List
- Location: On island, 6.5 miles off coast. – Reference: 1939 U.S. Lighthouse Service Light List
- Automated: 1978
- Status: Active aid to navigation owned by the U.S. Coast Guard and licensed to the American Lighthouse Foundation
Light Station Historical Facts:
The original Boon Island Lighthouse was built in 1811 and displayed a fixed light from 32 feet above the island. An 1831 storm destroyed the tower, forcing the construction of a second lighthouse on Boon Island in 1832. The present lighthouse was built in 1854 and lit for the first time on January 1, 1855.
The second order Fresnel lens that once served at Boon Island was removed from the lighthouse in 1993 and later placed on display at the Kittery Historical and Naval Museum in 2000.
– (Information courtesy of ALF Historian Jeremy D’Entremont)
Preservation Status:
Lighthouse in need of major restoration.
Located Offshore
The lighthouse is located offshore and is not accessible at this time. A few charter boats offer scenic cruises that go by this lighthouse.
