Matinicus Rock, the operative word is rock, is located 18 miles off the mainland, about 25 miles from Rockland. The rock is windswept and belies it's 32 acre size. It was recorded in the notes of Captain John Smith in 1614 as "the rock of Mattinack".
Congress authorized two lighthouses to be built in 1827, and it was designated the "primary light station". The first station was a stone building with a wooden tower on each end, it was just about destroyed by a huge storm in 1839 and had to be torn down.
The present station was finished in 1846, consisting of the house in the top photo, and two lighthouses farther apart than the station it replaced. One of the lights has been discontinued, the remaining tower and lantern are automated and show a flashing white light every 10 seconds and the fog signal give a blast every 15 seconds.
The "rock" is now a bird sanctuary and visitors are prohibited, it is under the operation of the U S Fish and Wildlife Service.
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| In full operation (Maine History Museum) |
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| A Coast Guard photo of the present station. |
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