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

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
 
 

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 inthe world. This particular exhibitcontains 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

Women Lighthouse Keepers exhibit highlights the roles that female keepers played in the history of lighthouse keeping and the Life Saving Service in the United States. There were far more female lighthouse keepers than people realize - well over 100 since the 1830's, and at least 14 of them were stationed in Maine. The exhibit talks about Abbie Burgess Grant, Ida Lewis, Fannie May Salter, and others. Photographs and artifacts will be displayed, as well as models and information about the lighthouses these intrepid women kept.

This exhibit is to introduce the Coast Guard training Barque EAGLE as a lead in to the EAGLE's visit to Rockland July 24 thru July 27, 2009.
Built in Germany in 1936 as the ship HORST WESSEL, the vessel was taken into possession as a war prize after WW II. It was restored to sailing condition and commissioned to the U.S. Coast Guard as a training vessel to be called the EAGLE.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 theirfamilies in New England.The tradition is carried on today each year by the Friends of Flying Santa

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

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

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

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.

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.

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 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

. White Island Lighthouse at the Isles of Shoals in Rye, New Hampshire has put together a wonderful exhibit that shows the work that Lighthouse Kids, Incorporated has been doing to save and maintain the lighthouse station though "Service Learning Projects" and additional volunteer efforts.

One of the oldest lighthouse stations in the country, and the first to be built north of Boston, is Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse in New Hampshire. Visitors to MLM will have the opportunity to learn about the history of this light station, established in 1771, and the get to know the personal stories of some of the keepers. One of the most beloved people associated with this light is Connie Small, author of the book The Lighthouse Keepers Wife.