Petit Manan Light

Year Built

1817

Cost

$8,000

Type

Conical Granite Tower

Height

118 feet

Location

Petit Manan Island

Automated Year

1972

First Lit

1855

Lens Type

Second Order Fresnel lens (original), VRB-25 (current)

Fog Signal

Horn: 1 every 30s

Year Deactivated

avtive

Color

Natural Granite w/black lantern

Last Keeper - Date

Robert Brann (1953 – 1954)

Description

The tower is a circular granite stone structure, and on top is mounted a two-story twelve-sided lantern house. The inside of the tower is lined with brick, and has iron stairs. The keeper's house is a two-story wood frame structure. Accompanying outbuildings include a rain shed, paint shed, generator building, and boathouse.

Brief History

•  The first keeper, who earned $350 per year, was Robert Upton.
•  1856 the tower was weakened when a storm knocked out some of the blocks.
•  In 1875 a wood frame one and a half story keeper’s house was built.
•  A storm in 1869 caused the tower to sway so much that some of the weights that turn the lens fell destroying part of the staircase.
•  The light station is part of the Petit Manan Wildlife Refuge and is not open to the public.