Heron Neck Light, Maritime navigation lighthouse in Knox County, United States
Heron Neck Light is a brick lighthouse standing 9 meters tall on Green Island, a granite point in Penobscot Bay with a white conical tower and iron railings around its lantern. The structure displays the solid construction typical of Maine coastal navigation lights, built to withstand ocean winds and weather.
The lighthouse was built in 1854 as a navigation aid for ships traveling toward Carver's Harbor and the southern waters of Penobscot Bay. Congress approved funding for the project, reflecting the importance of safe passage through this busy shipping corridor during the era of sailing vessels and early steamships.
The tower carries meaning for those who visit Green Island, showing how lighthouse keepers once lived and worked on this remote granite point to guide ships safely through the bay.
Visitors should bring sturdy shoes for walking on rocky granite terrain and be prepared for ocean winds that blow across the small island. The light remains automated today and can be viewed from the water or via boat access to Green Island when conditions permit.
An unusual stone oil house with a gabled roof stands near the tower, set apart from typical Maine lighthouse outbuildings that are usually made of brick. This small storage structure was essential for keeping fuel safe away from the main light during the days when keepers manually filled the lamps.
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