Bear Island Light, Maritime lighthouse in Cranberry Isles, United States.
Bear Island Light is a lighthouse positioned at the southern entrance to Somes Sound near Mount Desert Island. The brick tower stands about 31 feet (9 meters) tall on an 11-acre island surrounded entirely by water.
The original structure was built in 1839 following approval by President Martin Van Buren, though the current tower dates from a reconstruction in 1889. This rebuilding allowed the light to continue serving vessels navigating the rocky Maine coast.
The lighthouse served as a home for lighthouse keepers and their families across generations, shaping life on the isolated island. This continuous human presence created a unique community tied to maritime navigation and survival.
The lighthouse now serves as a private residence and is viewable from the water, though it can only be reached by boat from surrounding areas. Visitors typically observe it from the water rather than visiting the island itself, making a boat tour the best way to see it.
The structure sits on federal park land but operates under private lease, functioning as both a residence and a working navigation aid simultaneously. This unusual dual role makes it one of the few inhabited maritime structures that continues to serve its original purpose.
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