The growing limestone trade in Midcoast Maine led to the establishment of a light station at Owl’s Head, at the entrance to Rockland Harbor, in 1825. A tall lighthouse wasn’t necessary because of the height of the promontory. The light is exactly 100 feet above sea level. The present 30-foot brick lighthouse tower replaced the original one in 1852.
The station was automated in 1989 and the last Coast Guard keeper was removed. In December 2007, the lighthouse tower was licensed to the American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF). Then, in late 2012, it was announced that the keeper’s house had also been licensed to the American Lighthouse Foundation and that it would serve as the organization’s headquarters.
Bob Trapani, Jr., has served as the executive director of the American Lighthouse Foundation since 2005. As associate director of the American Lighthouse Foundation, Ann Trapani is involved in many aspects of the organization’s operation. Bob and Ann’s son Dominic, at the age of 23, has already established himself as one of the top photographers of the Maine coast.
In this interview, Ann, Dominic, and Bob discuss the special experience of working at Owls Head Lighthouse in all kinds of weather conditions, the photographic beauty of the Penobscot Bay region, and the day to day operation of the interpretive center and gift shop at the light station.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:03 — 41.6MB) | Embed
U.S. Lighthouse Society Historian Jeremy D’Entremont is the author of 24 books and hundreds of articles on lighthouses and maritime history. He is a past president of the American Lighthouse Foundation and founder of Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses, and he has lectured and narrated cruises throughout the Northeast and in other regions. He is also the producer and host of the U.S. Lighthouse Society’s weekly podcast, “Light Hearted.” He can be emailed at Jeremy@uslhs.org
I didn’t realize that the one in Maine the light house, there was Limestone! I live in Pacifica, CA we have a limestone too on the hill next to Rockaway Beach called the Quarry where there is a path where people walk!
Can we say near the ocean on the west coast and east coast has limestone!
This limestone was harvested! It was used to white wash the Adobe Homes and Mission Dolores!
Come and visit Pacifica we have an Adobe Home built by Francisco Sanchez in 1846, and a new Interpretive Center regarding the Ohlone Indians that lived there and the Spanish, Mexican and American Period.
Yes, limestone was a big business in Midcoast Maine. The powdered lime that was produced was used in construction. There are still some old quarries in the harbor at Rockport, Maine. https://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/ME-01-013-0044
Well, Owl’s Head is a region of many wonderful site’s to see, including the Lighthouse Museum in nearby Rockland. As a lifelong PacNW native, I highly recommend a vacation for at least a week in this far eastern outpost of the USA!
This was a wonderful interview.
We have visited Owls Head Light and enjoyed reliving our tour.
The Trapani’s are great photographers that we follow on several lighthouse sites. We stayed in Camden for 3 nights in 2019. The town indeed is the most charming village we have ever visited. We walked from our B&B each day to tour the shops, restaurants, and beautiful flower gardens and window boxes. Took the car ride to the top of Camden Hills State park to take in the awesome view of the harbor. Well done Jeremy ♥️
Thanks, David and Diane! Glad you enjoyed it. Owls Head and all of Midcoast Maine is really special.