West Quoddy Head Light

The West Quoddy Head is the easternmost point on the mainland of the State of Maine, and thus the United States of America. It forms the western entrance to Cobscook Bay and the St. Croix River and is provided by the Quoddy Head State Park conservation area. The coordinates of the lighthouse are given at 44 ° 38'54 "N and 66 ° 57'02 " W.

1808 Lighthouse of rubble masonry was made. Like all built before 1850 lighthouses in Maine - with the exception of the Portland Head Light - he had a height of 49 feet ( about 14 m). A replacement of this lighthouse was in 1853, which was demolished due to inferior mortar 1858. Then the still existing, enveloped by brickwork cast-iron structure was built. The building is 49 ft ( 15 m ) high, the diameter at the base of 16 ft (about 4.9 m) and tapers to 14 ft. ( 4,3 m). The red and white striped building now has 15 horizontal stripes (8 × red, white 7 × ), historical photographs show 16 strips (8 x red, 8 x white) or 13 strips ( 7 × red, 6 x white). Since 1988, the lighthouse is automated, computer- controlled mechanism operates the white flashing light, which reaches a height of 83 feet ( 25 m ) above sea level. The sight of the whole day flashing light is 15 to 18 nautical miles ( 24 to 29 km). By the U.S. Coast Guard, the paint was renewed in 2003 and the following year the levels of the lantern were overhauled. Built in 1857 home of the lighthouse keeper today contains a maintained by the West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association Museum, which is open from Memorial Day to mid-October.

The best view of the lighthouse can be enjoyed from the end of the Quoddy Head Road, which leads from the center of Lubec to the parking lot near the coast in a state park.