West Quoddy Head Lighthouse

[HOME] [SCREENSAVERS] [DOWNLOAD] [PURCHASE & REGISTRATION] [LIGHTHOUSE FACTS] [WALLPAPER] [USER'S GUIDE]

West Quoddy Head Light

(Lubec, Maine)

West Quoddy Head Light is located in Lubec, Maine, on the northern most part of Maine’s ocean coast. It stands on the easternmost point of the continental United States and is approximately 1.25 miles from the Canadian Shores of Campobello Island in New Brunswick. The lighthouse guides ships through the Quoddy Narrows, between the U.S. and Canada.

By the order of Thomas Jefferson in 1806, the first lighthouse was built on this spot in 1808. It was replaced in 1853 and then, due to faulty construction, was replaced by the current structure in 1858. At that time a 1 and ½ story Victorian keeper’s house was also built. The tower is constructed of brick and has a very distinctive day mark consisting of 15 red and white bands – eight red and seven white.

The1858 lighthouse was fitted with a third-order Fresnel lens which remains in use today. The tower itself is 49 feet tall and being on top of a cliff, the light shines 83 feet above sea level. The light can be seen up to 18 nautical miles away. The light’s characteristic is two white flashes every 15 seconds.

The area of Lubec is noted for its fog and therefore, fog signals have been an important part of the facility. At one time a fog cannon was used and then in 1820 the station received one of nation’s first fog bells. Many different types of bells were tried over the years until in 1869 a steam whistle was installed. The existing brick fog signal building was constructed in 1887 and contains a horn type fog signal. It emits two blasts every 30 seconds.

The light was automated in 1988 and is still maintained by the Coast Guard. In 1998 the station became the property of the State of Maine under the Maine Lights Program. The lighthouse grounds are a part of Quoddy Head State Park.

Directions:

Driving north on US Highway 1, 17 miles beyond Machias, turn east onto State Route 189. Proceed to Lubec (about 11 miles). Turn right onto the road marked “Quoddy Head State Park” and follow it to the park (day use only) and the lighthouse. As you travel down to the lighthouse you will see at certain points the Lubec Channel Light off the left.

[Back to Maine Lighthouses]

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

Do not reproduce any images from this website without permission of the author.