Goat Island Light is located at the Cape Porpoise Harbor entrance in Kennebunkport. It has the distinction of being Maine's last manned lighthouse, and also served as a guard station for the summer home of the former President George Bush. During his tenure it was not uncommon for helicopters holding dignitaries to land there, and Bush himself would often take a break from his fishing to visit with the keeper!
The 20-foot rubblestone tower and and wooden keeper's cottage were built in 1835; the original tower was taken down in 1860 and replaced with a brick tower in Federal Period architecture. The tower you see today is very plain, short, and free of decoration. Other buildings include a keeper's house built in 1859, a boathouse built in 1905, and an oil house built in 1907.
The island is inhabited by a family during the summer, and a man and his dog live there from October through June. The light is accessible by boat only, and any visitor who can get there is welcome to stop by and take a look around. Tours can also be arranged.
Year Established: 1833
Year Automated: 1990
Shape: Cylindrical
Height: 25 ft.
Characteristic: Flashing white every six seconds. Fog signal: one blast every 15 seconds.
Accessibility: The light is accessible only by boat but can be visited by the public via special arrangement. The best place to view the tower is from the municipal pier at Cape Porpoise, a village in the town of Kennebunkport.
Author Greg Marlett, Copyright 2007, All Rights Reserved
Thursday, May 01, 2008
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