Matinicus Rock Lighthouse

Matinicus Rock Lighthouse, established in 1827, stands on a remote, windswept granite island approximately 25 miles off the coast of Rockland, Maine. The current granite tower, constructed in 1857, replaced earlier wooden structures and has withstood the harsh maritime environment for over a century. This lighthouse is renowned for the heroic actions of Abbie Burgess, a teenage keeper’s daughter who, during a fierce storm in 1856, maintained the light and cared for her family alone for several weeks while her father was stranded ashore. Today, Matinicus Rock serves as a vital nesting site for Atlantic puffins and other seabirds, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge. While the island is closed to the public to protect wildlife, the lighthouse can be viewed from boat tours departing from Rockland.