Living History Program
The Maine Department of Marine Resources acquired the Burnt Island Light Station in 1998 as part of the Maine Lights Program. Education Director Elaine Jones, her assistant Jean McKay, local contractors, and hundreds of volunteers transformed it into a remarkable educational and recreational facility for the people of Maine and the nation.
Natural History Hike
Along the craggy shoreline, nature trails appeal to the outdoor enthusiast. Come explore the five-acre island's habitats and discover the varied life found in and around the rocky shore, sand beach, meadow, and maritime forest. Marvel at the flora and fauna indigenous to Maine's coast, as well as the geological features of this picturesque island.
Outstanding Opportunities
School children, Maine residents, artists, and cultural tourists are drawn to the Boothbay region for an unparalleled, lighthouse experience that has been rated by some visitors as the "best in the nation."
A dock and moorings provide recreational boaters and kayakers public access to a unique piece of Maine's coastline. The island is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, so bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the spectacular views from every direction.
And Family Fun
Burnt Island offers numerous recreational opportunities for families - from exploring the nooks and crannies of the five-acre island to catching a striped bass off its shore. Recreational boaters stop by for a break or to enjoy a picnic lunch. Artists and photographers capture the beauty of the lighthouse, while the young and the young at heart have fun on the tire swing.
Historic Information
Since 1821, the Burnt Island Lighthouse has played a significant role in guiding vessels safely into one of Maine's best harbors. Described by the Secretary of Navy; "It is easy of ingress and egress, large, safe in gales from any point of the compass, with good anchorage in any part of it."
On May 25, 1821, the United States of America purchased the five-acre island for $150 from local residents Jacob Auld and Joseph McCobb. This ended its use as sheep pasturage and Burnt Island was never to be burned over again.
At sunset on November 9, 1821, Keeper Joshua B. Cummings lit the 10 Lewis Patent Reflector lamps for the very first time. These lamps were replaced in 1857 with its first Fresnel lens - a 4th order, classical, beehive-shaped lens that produced a solid white light. In 1889 the lighthouse's signal was changed to a flashing light by the installation of a square, bullseye lens. The purpose of this change was to differentiate it from the newly built Ram Island Lighthouse. When the station was electrified in 1961, a 375mm lantern buoy lens was installed and today an acrylic Fresnel lens is in place creating a flashing light, once every 6 seconds.
In 1857, a granite keeper's dwelling was replaced by a 1.5 story, wood-frame cottage, connected to the lighthouse by a forty-five foot long covered walkway. This dwelling still exists today with upgrades that included the addition of a front porch and dormers.
On June 19, 1895, a party of workmen arrived at the station to build a bell tower. It took them two days to complete the thirty-foot tall, wooden, pyramidal structure. About a month later, the sloop Ajax landed the 1,029 pound bell that provided mariners with a fog signal for the next sixty-six years. With the arrival of electricity in 1961, the bell tower was razed and a smaller bell was placed at the base of the lighthouse. Today, a foghorn powered by solar energy provides the signal.
Over the span of 167 years, thirty men served as Keepers of the Burnt Island Lighthouse until its automation in
1988. Ten years later, the Department of Marine Resources acquired the property as part of the Maine Lights Program, a transfer of 28 lighthouses to new owners. It presently serves as an outstanding educational and recreational facility for the people of Maine and the nation.
Keeper Elaine Jones painting the lighthouse.
AmeriCorps volunteer removing ceiling tiles.
Master gardeners make raised flower beds.
Former Keeper's son repairing his old home.