Pond Island Lighthouse

Pond Island Lighthouse, located at the mouth of the Kennebec River near Popham Beach in Maine, was first established in 1821 to aid navigation into the river. The original stone tower was replaced in 1855 with the current 20-foot cylindrical brick structure, which was equipped with a fifth-order Fresnel lens. The lighthouse was automated in 1963, and the keeper’s house and other outbuildings were removed. Today, the lighthouse remains an active aid to navigation and is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Pond Island National Wildlife Refuge. The island serves as a sanctuary for nesting seabirds, including common and roseate terns, and is closed to the public during the nesting season from April 1 to August 31. While the lighthouse itself is not open to visitors, it can be viewed from Popham Beach or via boat tours in the area.