Great Duck Island Light

Great Duck Island Light is a cylindrical brick lighthouse rising 13 meters above the southern tip of the island with white markings and a black lantern top. The structure sits on an island in the Gulf of Maine and helps guide vessels through the area with its light signal.

The lighthouse was planned and built following a lumber schooner shipwreck in 1890, after Congress provided funding in 1889. Construction at this dangerous location was a response to the need for guiding ships away from the reefs and shallow waters around the island.

The island hosts a research station where students observe and study seabird populations and marine life. This scientific work shapes the character of the place today, showing how it has evolved from a simple lighthouse location into a center for nature research.

The site is accessible only by boat since it sits on a remote island in the Gulf of Maine. Visitors should monitor weather conditions and prepare for damp conditions and strong winds that are common in this region.

A dog named Seaboy survived a shipwreck near the lighthouse and chose to stay with a girl living on the northern part of the island. This unusual story shows how the isolated island became known for unexpected encounters.

Location: Hancock County

Inception: 1890

Height: 13 m

GPS coordinates: 44.14202,-68.24582

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:21