While at Acadia National Park in October 2013, we visited the Bass Harbor Head Light Station. This is a working lighthouse operated by the U.S. Coast Guard and its predecessors since September 1, 1858. The lighthouse is 32 feet high with a focal plane 56 feet above mean high water. It originally was equipped with a 5th order Fresnel Lens and now has a 4th order Fresnel lens. The station was automated in 1974, but a keeper still resides on site.The original light was a brass lamp fueled by whale oil and covered by a red shade that was visible for 13 nautical miles. In 1933, a kerosene lamp was installed to produce a better light. The station was electrified in 1949 and the light was changed from solid red to occulting red with a cycle of four seconds on and one second off. The current light is a 1,000 watt bulb. Because this is an operational lighthouse, all of the buildings are closed to visitors. However, a short path at the driveway end of the parking lot leads past the light keeper's residence to the base of the tower. A slightly longer path at the far end of the parking lot leads to a set of stairs down to the rocky shore.
 |
| The former lightkeeper's residence is now the home of the commander of the local Coast Guard unit |
 |
| Lighthouse |
 |
| Blake Bell Co. U.S. Lighthouse Establishment 1891 |
 |
| Sunlight on calm water |
 |
| Trailhead |
 |
| A gravel trail leads to... |
 |
| ...a set of stairs descending to the rocky shore |
 |
| Iconic view of the Bass Harbor Head Light |
 |
| Little Duck Island, Great Duck Island and Great Gott Island |
In 2012, the lighthouse was the thirteenth subject of the America the Beautiful Quarters® program. A description of the coin is available at http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/atb/?local=Acadia.
An entrance fee of $20 per vehicle is collected at Acadia National Park. The vehicle pass is valid for seven consecutive days. Another option is to purchase the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass valid for one year for $80. A lifetime Senior Pass is available for $10 for those 62 years of age or older.
The park website is http://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm.
No comments:
Post a Comment