Seguin Island Lighthouse

Seguin Island Lighthouse, located approximately 2.5 miles off the coast of Phippsburg, Maine, is the state’s second-oldest lighthouse and boasts the highest focal plane of any Maine lighthouse at 180 feet above sea level. Commissioned by President George Washington in 1795, the current 53-foot granite tower was constructed in 1857 and houses the only operational first-order Fresnel lens in Maine, providing a white light visible up to 18 nautical miles.

The lighthouse station includes a keeper’s house, fog signal building, oil house, and a unique tramway system installed in 1895 to transport supplies up the steep incline from the shore—the last working tramway of its kind in Maine.  Managed by the Friends of Seguin Island Light Station (FOSILS), the island is accessible to visitors seasonally from Memorial Day to Labor Day, offering tours of the tower, a museum, hiking trails, and overnight accommodations for FOSILS members.

Seguin Island Lighthouse is also known for its rich maritime history and folklore, including tales of hauntings by former keepers and mysterious piano music echoing across the water.  The lighthouse was automated in 1985 and continues to serve as an active aid to navigation, standing as a testament to Maine’s nautical heritage.