Exhibits

Fresnel Lenses on display at the Maine Lighthouse Museum
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
   Fresnel Lenses:

The Maine Lighthouse Museum has the
largest collection of Fresnel lenses on
display in the United States. The Fresnel
lens was an 1820s technology invented
by Frenchman Augustin Fresnel
(1788-1827) and sent a brilliant light
to sea to warn mariners
Fresnel Lens:
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
   Fresnel Lens:

A artist's portrait of Museum founder
Ken Black is located adjacent to the
Museum's largest lens -- a second order
Fresnel that once was located
in Maine's Petit Manan Lighthouse
 
 

 

Buoys:
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Buoys:

A wide variety of vintage lenses for
buoys, as well as a representation
of sound signals for buoys,
comprise an interesting exhibit
about buoys - floating aids to navigation

USLHS Chinaware:
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
USLHS Chinaware:

Many light stations were
provided with a set of U.S.
Lighthouse Service chinaware.
The Museum exhibits some of
the rarest pieces of
this official dinnerware

Brassware:
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Brassware:

Many of the lightkeeper's utensils
for keeping a good light or storing
the light's fuel were made of brass.
The keeper was expected to make sure this brassware was always
thoroughly polished for inspection
by his/her superior

 

Keepers:
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
   Keepers:

Lightkeeper devices, caps, pins, lighthouse
depot patrolman badges, etc. help explain
the uniforms once worn
by U.S. Lighthouse Service employees
from the 1880s through the 1930s

Lighthouse Models:
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
   Lighthouse Models:

Fascinating large lighthouse models, one
such work of art complete with
interior furniture to the delight of children,
teach about what made up a light station
and where families lived at the lighthouse

 

Fog Horns:
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Fog Horns:

When thick weather or fog obscured
the light of a lighthouse, keepers would
activate a sound signal to warn mariners. Fog
horns saved many lives when visibility
was reduced or non-existent

Fog Bells:
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Fog Bells:

Before the advent of steam-powered
sound signals, many light stations were
equipped with large fog bells that were
sounded by a striking mechanism. If the
mechanism failed during times of fog, the keeper
was expected to ring the bell manually

 

Connie Small's Quilt:
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Connie Small's Quilt:

One of the Museum's most prized possessions
from the lighthouse era is a hand-stitched
quilt by Connie Small, the wife of long-time
keeper Elson Small. Connie, known as the "First
Lady of Light" stitched various scenes at the
light stations Elson and her served at in Maine,
including St. Croix River bordering the
shorelines of America and Canada

Lightkeeper Photos:
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Lightkeeper Photos:

Vintage photos of lighthouse keepers are
located throughout the Museum's exhibition hall,
including some of the most famous such as
Abbie Burgess, Robert Sterling, Ida Lewis,
etc. The images help the visitor place a face
to some of the time-honored stories
associated with lighthouse keepers

 

Life-Saving Service:
Photo by Bob Trapani,Jr.
Life-Saving Service:

The U.S. Life-Saving Service (1878-1915)
was the civilian predecessor to the Coast
Guard and was accredited with saving over
177,000 lives. Visitors are able to learn how
surfmen saved lives by using such lifesaving
tools as a Lyle Gun and faking box

Life-Saving Service:
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr
Life-Saving Service:

The surfmen of the U.S. Life-Saving
Service would pull a beach cart to many
rescue sites, which carried important lifesaving
gear, including the Lyle gun and breeches
buoy system. The Coast Guard used a
beach cart as well for many years

 

Plaque by Friends of Flying Santa Flying Santa:
Plaque by Friends of Flying Santa Flying Santa:

A long-time Christmas tradition that
dates back to 1929 is sure to delight
young and old alike as an exhibit
dedicated to the Flying Santa
explains how Santa Claus rode
by airplane -- and later by helicopter,
to deliver toys and holiday treats
to lighthouse keepers and their
families in New England.
The tradition is carried on today
each year by the
Friends of Flying Santa

Fresnel Lenses:
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Fresnel Lenses:

The Federal government began
installing Fresnel lenses in
American lighthouses during the
1850s, which greatly helped our
nation's lighthouse system rise in
effectiveness as the finest in
the world. This particular exhibit
contains a third order lens from
Matinicus Rock Lighthouse, a
fourth order lens from Cuckolds
Lighthouse and a fifth order
lens from Isle au Haut Lighthouse

MLM Interpretive Panel Keepers:
MLM Interpretive Panel Keepers:

What was it like to live and work
at a lighthouse. Exhibits throughout
the Museum explain the bygone life
of "keeping a good light," touching
on the pride, loneliness, isolation,
storms, occasional rescues and
most of all, hard work associated
with tending a lighthouse and
station buildings

 

CWO Kenneth N. Black, (USCG Ret):
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
CWO Kenneth N. Black, (USCG Ret):

The origins of the Maine Lighthouse Museum
are traced to the passion and vision of
Ken Black -- "Mr. Lighthouse," a man who
has spent his entire life dedicated to the
preservation of America's lighthouse history.
An exhibit teaches visitors about "Mr.
Lighthouse," including his three decades of
service in the United States Coast Guard

Flags:
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Flags:

The Museum proudly exhibits a variety of
flags from the U.S. Lighthouse Service
and U.S. Coast Guard, as well as a
flag of the United States Department
of Commerce (shown in photo), which was
presented to Ken Black during
the grand opening of the Kenneth N. Black
Exhibition Hall in 2006

 

Lights & Lampchangers:
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Lights & Lampchangers:

Exhibit space is devoted to displaying modern
acrylic lights of various sizes, as well as
vintage and contemporary lampchangers --
an invention that permitted a new lamp to
ratchet in place when another burned out.
A lampchanger, depending on its style, can
hold two or more lamps. The standard size
today holds six lamps.
21st Century Lights:
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
21st Century Lights:

Gone are the days of using fuel oils to
light aids to navigation, and even electric
powered lighted aids will one day vanish.
Thanks to a generous donation by Carmanah
Technologies of Victoria, British Columbia,
Canada, the Museum is able to teach visitors
about a new technology -- solar powered light
emitting diodes (LEDs) that are being used
by the U.S. Coast Guard on buoys
and other lighted aids.

 

Boats:
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Boats:

When lighthouse keepers staffed offshore
lighthouses, the only way to get to shore
for supplies or things like the mail was
to do so by boat. Light stations were
provided with small skiffs or peapods for
this purpose. Visitors learn how keepers
handled and landed these boats in rough
weather and why they were so
important to the light station

Lighthouses & Advertising:
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Lighthouses & Advertising:

Lighthouses not only saved lives, but the
image of a lighthouse has also adorned
countless advertisements and merchandise
items for decades. The Museum has an
intriguing representation of lighthouses and
advertisements thanks to the generous
donation of Timothy Harrison

Donate to the Maine Lighthouse Museum TODAY!

The Maine Lighthouse Museum's collection was founded by Ken Black in 1968 and grew to what it is today thanks to Ken's efforts and loaned artifacts from the United States Coast Guard. In April 2007, the American Lighthouse Foundation added its collection from the organization's Museum of Lighthouse History.

To learn more about visiting the Maine Lighthouse Museum click Visitor Info or to learn more about how you can join as a member of the Maine Lighthouse Museum click Membership.