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      • Wood Island Lighthouse, Maine
      • Winter Harbor Lighthouse, Maine
      • Whitehead Island Lighthouse, Maine
      • Whaleback Light, Maine
      • West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, Maine
      • Two Bush Island Lighthouse, Maine
      • Squirrel Point Lighthouse, Maine
      • Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse, Maine
      • Southern Island Light, Maine
      • Seguin Island Lighthouse, Maine
      • Saddleback Ledge Light, Maine
      • Rockland Harbor Southwest Light, Maine
      • Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, Maine
      • Robinson Point Lighthouse on Isle Au Haut, Maine
      • Ram Island Lighthouse, Maine
      • Ram Island Ledge Light, Maine
      • Pumpkin Island Lighthouse, Maine
      • Prospect Harbor Lighthouse, Maine
      • Portland Head Lighthouse, Maine
      • Portland Breakwater Lighthouse, Maine
      • Popham Beach Life Saving Station
      • Pond Island Light, Maine
      • Petit Manan Lighthouse, Maine
      • Perkins Island Lighthouse, Maine
      • Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, Maine
      • Owls Head Lighthouse, Maine
      • Nash Island Light, Maine
      • Narraguagus Island Light, Maine
      • Mount Desert Rock Lighthouse, Maine
      • Moose Peak Lighthouse, Maine
      • Monhegan Island Lighthouse, Maine
      • Matinicus Rock Light, Maine
      • Marshall Point Lighthouse, Maine
      • Lubec Channel Lighthouse, Maine
      • Little River Lighthouse, Maine
      • Libby Island Lighthouse, Maine
      • Kennebec River Range Lights, Maine
      • Indian Island Light, Maine
      • Heron Neck Lighthouse, Maine
      • Hendricks Head Lighthouse, Maine
      • Halfway Rock Lighthouse, Maine
      • Grindle Point Lighthouse, Maine
      • Great Duck Island Lighthouse, Maine
      • Goose Rocks Lighthouse, Maine
      • Goat Island Lighthouse, Maine
      • Franklin Island Light, Maine
      • Fort Point Lighthouse, Maine
      • Egg Rock Lighthouse, Maine
      • Eagle Island Light, Maine
      • Dyce Head Lighthouse, Maine
      • Doubling Point Lighthouse, Maine
      • Deer Island Thorofare Light, Maine
      • Curtis Island Light, Maine
      • Cuckolds Light, Maine
      • Cape Neddick (the Nubble) Light, Maine
      • Cape Elizabeth Light, Maine
      • Burnt Island Lighthouse, Maine
      • Burnt Coat Harbor Lighthouse, Swans Island, Maine
      • Browns Head Lighthouse, Vinalhaven, Maine
      • Boon Island Lighthouse, Maine
      • Blue Hill Bay Light, Maine
      • Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, Maine
      • Baker Island Lighthouse, Maine
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      • Point Montara Lighthouse, California
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      • Point Vicente Light, California
      • Santa Cruz Light, California
      • Table Bluff Lighthouse, California
      • Trinidad Head Memorial Light, California
    • Connecticut Lighthouses
      • Tongue Point Lighthouse
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      • Stratford Point Lighthouse, Connecticut
      • Stonington Harbor Lighthouse, Connecticut
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      • Sheffield Island Lighthouse, Connecticut
      • Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse, Connecticut
      • Race Rock Lighthouse, Connecticut
      • Penfield Reef Lighthouse
      • New London Ledge Lighthouse, Connecticut
      • New London Harbor Lighthouse, Connecticut
      • Mystic Seaport Lighthouse, Connecticut
      • Morgan Point Lighthouse, Connectitcut
      • Lynde Point Lighthouse, Connecticut
      • Latimer Reef Lighthouse, Connecticut
      • Great Captain Island Lighthouse
      • Five Mile Point Light, Connecticut
      • Fayerweather Island Lighthouse, Connecticut
      • Faulkners Island Lighthouse, Connecticut
      • Avery Point Lighthouse
    • Delaware Lighthouses
      • Harbor of Refuge Light, Delaware
      • Delaware Breakwater Light, Delaware
      • Fenwick Island Lighthouse
      • Liston Rear Range Light
      • Overfalls Lightship, Delaware
      • Mispillion Lighthouse, Delaware
      • Reedy Island Rear Range Light
      • Marcus Hook Rear Range Light
    • Florida Lighthouses
      • Amelia Island Lighthouse, Florida
      • American Shoal Lighthouse, Florida
      • Cape Canaveral Light, Florida
      • Cape Florida Lighthouse, Florida
      • Crooked River Lighthouse
      • Faro Blanco Light, Florida
      • Garden Key Lighthouse, Florida
      • Gasparilla Island Lights, Florida
      • Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse, Florida
      • Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse
      • Key West Lighthouse, Florida
      • Loggerhead Key Lighthouse, Florida
      • Pensacola Lighthouse
      • Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, Florida
      • Sand Key Lighthouse, Florida
      • Sanibel Island Lighthouse, Florida
      • St. Augustine Lighthouse, Florida
      • St. John's River Lighthouse, Florida
      • St. Marks Lighthouse, Florida
      • Sombrero Key Lighthouse
    • Georgia Lighthouses
      • St. Simons Island Lighthouse, Georgia
      • Tybee Island Lighthouse, Georgia
    • Hawai'i Lighthouses
      • Diamond Head Lighthouse, O'ahu, Hawai'i
      • Kilauea Point Lighthouse, Kaua'i, Hawai'i
      • Lahaina Harbor Lighthouse, Mau'i, Hawai'i
      • Makapu'u Light, Oahu, Hawai'i
      • Moloka'i Lighthouse, Moloka'i, Hawai'i
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      • Grosse Point Light, Illinois
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      • New Canal Lighthouse, Louisiana
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      • Piney Point Light, Maryland
      • Point Lookout Lighthouse, Maryland
      • Sandy Point Light, Maryland
      • Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse, Maryland
      • Thomas Point Light, Maryland
      • Turkey Point Lighthouse, Maryland
    • Massachusetts Lighthouses
      • Winter Island Lighthouse
      • Wings Neck Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • West Chop Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Three Sisters of Nauset Lighthouses, Massachusetts
      • Thacher Island Twin Lights, Massachusetts
      • Ten Pound Island Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Tarpaulin Cove Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Straitsmouth Island Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Stage Harbor Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Scituate Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Race Point Lighthouse, Cape Cod Massachusetts
      • Plymouth Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Plum Island Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Palmer Island Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Nobska Point Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Newburyport Harbor Range Lights, Massachusetts
      • Ned's Point Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Nauset Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Nantucket Lightship, Massachusetts
      • Monomoy Point Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Minots Ledge Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Marblehead Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Lewis Bay Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Hospital Point Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Highland Lighthouse, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
      • Great Point Lighthouse, Nantucket, Massachusetts
      • Graves Light, Massachusetts
      • Gay Head Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Eastern Point Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • East Chop Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Duxbury Pier Light, Massachusetts
      • Dog Bar Breakwater Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Derby Wharf Light, Massachusetts
      • Deer Island Light, Massachusetts
      • Cleveland Ledge Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Clark's Point Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Chatham Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Cape Poge Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Boston Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Butler Flats Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Bird Island Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Bass River Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Baker's Island Lighthouse, Massachusetts
      • Annisquam Lighthouse, Massachusetts
    • New Hampshire Lighthouses
      • Isles of Shoals Light, New Hampshire
      • Portsmouth Harbor Light, New Hampshire
    • New Jersey Lighthouses
      • Absecon Lighthouse, New Jersey
      • Barnegat Lighthouse, New Jersey
      • Brandywine Shoal Light, New Jersey
      • Cape May Lighthouse, New Jersey
      • Chapel Hill Rear Range Light, New Jersey
      • Conover Beacon Front Range Light, New Jersey
      • East Point Lighthouse, New Jersey
      • Finns Point Lighthouse
      • Fourteen Foot Bank Light, New Jersey
      • Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, North Wildwood, New Jersey
      • Miah Maull Shoal Light, New Jersey
      • Sandy Hook Lighthouse, New Jersey
      • Sea Girt Lighthouse, New Jersey
      • Ship John Shoal Light, New Jersey
      • Twin Lights of Navesink, New Jersey
      • Tinicum Rear Range Lighthouse, New Jersey
    • New York Lighthouses
      • Ambrose Lightship, New York
      • Big Sodus Light, New York
      • Blackswell Island Light, New York
      • Buffalo Main Lighthouse, New York
      • Cape Vincent Breakwater Lighthouse, New York
      • Clayton Memorial Lighthouse, New Yrok
      • Coney Island Lighthouse, New York
      • Crossover Island Lighthouse, New York
      • Dunkirk Light, New York
      • Esopus Meadows Lighthouse, New York
      • Execution Rocks Lighthouse, New York
      • Fire Island Lighthouse, New York
      • Horton Point Light, New York
      • Montauk Point Lighthouse, New York
      • Ogdensburg Harbor Lighthouse, New York
      • Old Field Point Lighthouse, New York
      • Rock Island Lighthouse, New York
      • Rondout Creek Lighthouse, New York
      • Saugerties Lighthouse, New York
      • Selkirk Lighthouse, New York
      • Sister Islands Lighthouse, New York
      • Staten Island Light, New York
      • Stepping Stones Lighthouse
      • Stony Point Lighthouse, New York
      • Sunken Rock Lighthouse, New York
      • Tarrytown Lighthouse, New York
      • Tibbetts Point Lighthouse, New York
    • North Carolina Lighthouses
      • Bodie Island Light, North Carolina
      • Ocracoke Light, North Carolina
      • Cape Hatteras Light, North Carolina
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      • Fairport Harbor Light, Ohio
      • Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light, Ohio
      • Marblehead Light, Ohio
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      • Cape Meares Light, Oregon
      • Cleft of the Rock Light, Oregon
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    • Lighthouse Trips
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      • 2011-09-10 Boothbay Lighthouse Cruise with NELL
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West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, Maine

The distinctive and recognizable red & white striped West Quoddy Head Light is located on the most eastern point of the contiguous United States. It is the first place in the U.S. to see the dawning of a new day. It is symbolic, majestic and picturesque. Each New Years Day West Quoddy is host to a contingent of people wishing to be the first to greet a new year of hope and promise. As one of the oldest lighthouses in Maine, it has over the years endeared itself to the local populace and visitors alike.
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As maritime traffic increased in the Quoddy Narrows between the U.S. and Canada in the early 1800’s, people petitioned for a lighthouse in the area.  Congress responded by allocating $5,000 in April 1806 for the project.
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As maritime traffic increased in the Quoddy Narrows between the U.S. and Canada in the early 1800’s, people petitioned for a lighthouse in the area. Congress responded by allocating $5,000 in April 1806 for the project.

LiQuoddyHead

  • As maritime traffic increased in the Quoddy Narrows between the U.S. and Canada in the early 1800’s, people petitioned for a lighthouse in the area.  Congress responded by allocating $5,000 in April 1806 for the project.
  • Massachusetts ceded 100 acres of land on Quoddy Head (Maine did not become a separate state until 1820) to the federal government who contracted with Benjamin Beal and Duncan Thaxter to build a wooden tower.
  • In 1808 a wooden octagonal tower was completed along with dwelling for the first Keeper Thomas Dexter.  The lamps installed in the lantern used whale oil for illumination.  Dexter served as Keeper until 1813 when he was replaced by Peter Godfrey.
  • West Quoddy Head is the location of one of the first fog bells used in the U.S.  In 1820 a 500 pound fog bell was added to the station at a cost of $1,000 to replace a cannon that was used to answer ships in foggy conditions.  This was later replaced by a smaller bell with a higher pitch, and then another large 1,500 pound bell.  A 4th attempt to improve the signal used a triangular steel bar.
  • By 1830 the West Quoddy tower required rebuilding.  The prolific lighthouse builder Joseph Berry, who also built towers at Hendricks Head and Pemaquid, built a 49 foot rubblestone tower which went into service in August 1831.
  • In the 1850’s the United States began installing Fresnel lenses at its lighthouses and rebuilding some of the towers.  In 1856 $15,000 was appropriated for rebuilding the West Quoddy Head Light.
  • A 49 foot brick tower, the current lighthouse, and a 1½ story Victorian wood framed Keepers dwelling were completed in 1858.
  • The tower was located atop a 40 foot cliff providing a focal plane of 83 feet.
  • The distinctive 8 red and 7 white stripes were added to the tower shortly after its construction.  The only other lighthouse with a daymark of red & white stripes in the United States is the Assateague Island Light in Virginia.  These unique markings make West Quoddy easy to identify.
  • A 3rd Order fixed Fresnel lens manufactured by L. Sautter of Paris was installed in the lantern of the new tower.  The same lens remains in the tower today and is the only 3rd Order lens still in use in Maine.
  • The lantern room is accessed by a 50 step iron stairway leading to a 10 rung ladder.  The tower also has 2 windows 40 inches tall and 30 inches wide.
  • Further attempts to improve the fog signal were made over the years.  In 1866 a hot air powered trumpet was installed at the station.  In 1887 the current fog signal building was constructed to house a compressed air horn.
  • West Quoddy often logged the most hours of operation of the fog signal in the country.
  • In 1892 a brick oil house was added to the station to store the combustible kerosene used for the lighthouse lamp.
  • The light was electrified in 1934.  Upon electrification the lights characteristic was changed from a fixed white light to a flashing light.
  • In 1899 the dwelling was modified to add another kitchen and divide the house to allow two families to reside at the station.  During the 1950’s it was converted back to a single family dwelling.
  • When the Coast Guard assumed authority over the nations lighthouses in 1939, civilian Keeper Bob Gray decided to join the service and remained at West Quoddy until his retirement in 1952.  Keeper Gray had the distinction of appearing on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post in 1945 tending the lawn at West Quoddy.
  • The light became automated in 1988 and the last lighthouse keeper left. Ownership was transferred to Maine’s Bureau of Parks and Land under the Maine Lights Program in 1998.  The station became part of Quoddy Head State Park.
  • The Keepers residence was renovated in 2001 to be used as a welcome center for the park.  It contains displays showing the life of the Keepers at the station as well as information on the wildlife of the area.
  • In 2004 the Coast Guard had repairs made to the lantern.  Corroded parts were replaced and the lantern was repainted.  Drain spouts in the shape of gargoyles which were part of the original lantern were recast and installed.
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