Burnt Island Light

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Burnt Island Light

(Boothbay Harbor, Maine)

Burnt Island Light is situated on the west side entrance to Boothbay Harbor on a five-acre island. The light was built in 1821. Although housed in a short 30 foot rubble stone tower, the light sits on a hill that places it 61 feet above sea level.

Originally, the light was a fixed white light, which was modified in 1888 by adding a dark sector on the side towards the Cuckolds light in the outer harbor. This was necessary due to navigators getting it confused with the Cuckolds light. After adding the dark sector the light could not be seen until after passing the Cuckolds Light while coming into Boothbay Harbor.

The fixed white light was changed in 1892 to the present red flashing light with two white sectors. The white sectors warn mariners away from particularly dangerous areas. The red areas are produced by using red panels. Openings in the red panels produce the sharply defined white sectors.

In April of 1962 the light was converted from kerosene to electricity and in 1989 it was automated. The fourth order Fresnel lens was removed in the 1960s and is now at the Shore Village Museum in Rockland, Maine. Today a modern 300 mm lens is used to produce the light that can be seen as red for 12 nautical miles and as white for 15 nautical miles.

A cottage style keepers house that is there today was built to replace the original structure in 1857. That same year the covered walkway between the tower and the keepers house was built.

The Maine Lighthouse Selection Committee approved the transfer of Burnt Island Light to the Maine Department of Marine Resources in February of 1998. They plan on transforming the island into an educational facility that will provide maritime history programs as well as programs in navigation, ecosystems, fisheries, art, literature and music.

The lighthouse is best photographed from one of the Boothbay Harbor tour boats. The Maine Maritime Museum’s Lighthouse Cruises often stop on the island to allow those on the cruise to enjoy lunch at the foot of the lighthouse.

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All pictures are the original work of Rick Totton and are protected under copyright laws.

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