The active light stands on breathtaking cliffs overlooking East Penobscot Bay, with sightlines up and down the Bay. Eagle Island Light shines brightly to this day and remains a classic example of early Maine lighthouses. Commissioned in 1838 with President Martin Van Buren’s signature, Eagle Island Light has been cared for by 23 lightkeepers until it was automated in 1959. The Light consists of a granite block and rubble tower topped by a metal lantern house, located on Eagle Island overlooking East Penobscot Bay. The nearby wooden bell tower was erected in 1932 and was used to sound warning to mariners in the fog. The bell tower still stands and is one of only three such towers left on the Maine coast. Eagle Light Caretakers (ELC) was constituted in 1996 as a result of the Maine Lights Program, where the federal government turned over the majority of Maine lighthouses to nonprofits. The Light endures through their efforts and your contributions, providing a navigational beacon to fishermen and recreational sailors alike while inspiring pride in Maine’s maritime heritage.
