Bass Harbor Head Light Station - Bass Harbor ME
Posted by: 
nomadwillie
N 44° 13.340 W 068° 20.212
19T E 552966 N 4896780
Bass Harbor Head Light is a lighthouse located within Acadia National Park on the southeast side of Mount Desert Island, Maine, United States, marking the entrance to Bass Harbor and Blue Hill Bay
Waymark Code: WM6W0A
Location: Maine, United States
Date Posted: 07/26/2009
Views: 21
The history of Bass Harbor Head Light started in 1855 when it was deemed that there was sufficient reason for a lighthouse at the mouth of Bass Harbor. $5000 was appropriated by Congress for its construction in 1858. The construction of a fog bell and tower, which no longer remains today, was completed in 1876 with a much larger 4000 pound bell being placed inside the tower in 1898.[3] The keeper's house remains in its original configuration with the exception of a 10-foot addition that was added in 1900.[3]
In 1902, an oil storage house constructed of brick was built 205 feet northwest of the lighthouse.
Bass Harbor's fifth order Fresnel lens was replaced in 1902 with a larger fourth order. This lens was manufactured by the French company Henry-Lepaute. This lens remains in service today
Today, the house is a private residence for a local Coast Guard member and his family. Tourists can get close to the bell and light via a concrete path, but most of the grounds remain private. There is a short walk which takes you to a series of wooden steps that lead you down onto the many granite boulders that provide a great view of the harbor side of the lighthouse
Street address:
Bass Harbor Head
Bass Harbor , ME
County / Borough / Parish: Hancock
Year listed: 1988
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Periods of significance: 1850-1874, 1875-1899, 1900-1924, 1925-1949
Historic function: Domestic, Transportation
Current function: Transportation
Privately owned?: no
Season start / Season finish: From: 01/01/2009 To: 12/31/2009
Hours of operation: From: 9:00 AM To: 5:00 PM
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.