Burnt Island Light, Maritime beacon in Boothbay Harbor, United States.
Burnt Island Light is a stone lighthouse with a white tower and black lantern room sitting on an island near Boothbay. The site includes several historic structures: the keeper's residence, a boathouse, and an oil storage building arranged around the tower.
The lighthouse was built in 1821 and is one of Maine's oldest surviving structures, originally using whale oil lamps and reflective mirrors for signaling. The complex was updated over time to incorporate modern navigation equipment.
The lighthouse demonstrates how keepers lived and worked on the island, with exhibits showing their daily responsibilities and routines. Visitors gain insight into the important role these stations played in keeping maritime traffic safe.
Visits are possible during summer months through boat tours departing from Pier 8 in Boothbay, arranged by Balmy Days Cruises. Binoculars and waterproof clothing are helpful since weather conditions on the water can change quickly.
The keeper's house dates to 1857, the boathouse to 1880, and the oil house to 1899, with each building preserved from different periods. This time span reveals how a light station's equipment and infrastructure evolved over several decades.
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