West Quoddy Head Light, Historical lighthouse in Lubec, United States
West Quoddy Head Light is a lighthouse with a distinctive red and white striped tower located at the easternmost point of the continental United States. The brick structure stands 15 meters tall on a rocky headland, surrounded by visitor facilities housed in the former keeper's residence.
The first lighthouse here began operating in 1808, and was replaced in 1858 by the current brick structure to safely guide ships through Quoddy Narrows. This building has served generations of mariners and remains an important landmark in the region's maritime history.
The lighthouse has become deeply rooted in Maine's maritime identity and appears on a 1990 United States Postal Service stamp celebrating American lighthouses. Locals and visitors alike view it as a symbol of the state's seafaring past and coastal heritage.
Access to the site is by a short walk from the parking area to the headland, and the grounds are open to visitors during the warmer months. The pathways are well-maintained and provide good views of the ocean and surrounding cliffs.
The lighthouse retains its original third-order Fresnel lens from the 19th century, one of only a handful of such functioning systems still in use along Maine's entire coast. This particular lens remains a rare example of the light technology from that era.
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