On September 10, 2025, the Owls Head Light Station will celebrate its 200th anniversary as a guardian of mariners near and far. This date marks the day in 1825 when Owls Head Light was first lit, according to a news release. At the time of its construction, Owls Head Light was the thirteenth lighthouse established along the rugged coast of Maine and served as the principal guide into bustling Rockland Harbor.

"Two hundred years of service to commercial shipping, the fishing industry and pleasure craft is an amazing milestone worth celebrating, which is exactly what the American Lighthouse Foundation, with support from the Mussel Ridge Historical Society, intend to do," said the release.

The public is invited to take part in a day of festivities on September 10, which includes a commemoration event, tours of the lighthouse and birthday cake. During tours of the lighthouse, visitors will be able to climb the tower and admire the 1856 fourth order Fresnel lens, which is still in use. Owls Head’s classical lens is one of only eight Fresnel lenses remaining in Maine lighthouses.

During the commemoration event, attendees will learn about Owls Head Light’s rich history, hear stories of keepers and their families who helped keep the light shining bright, the station’s impact on the Midcoast Maine community, and how Owls Head Light is still making history today.

“Owls Head Light Station’s 200th anniversary is more than a celebration of its storied history,” says Bob Trapani, Jr., Executive Director for the American Lighthouse. “The occasion is also a time to reflect upon why this special place matters culturally, and why it speaks to the hearts of people who cherish its unique sense of place in their lives.”

Today, Owls Head Light Station serves as the proud headquarters for the nonprofit American Lighthouse Foundation. The venerable lighthouse, which shines its guiding light 100-feet above the sparkling waters of Penobscot Bay, continues to guide twenty-first century mariners. The navigational light and fog horn are maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Schedule of Events includes:

10 am to 4 pm - The former keeper’s house (first floor) will be open to the public

12:30 pm to 1 pm – Commemoration event featuring guest speakers and dignitaries

1 pm to 4 pm – The lighthouse will be open for tours

For more information, visit the American Lighthouse Foundation website at www.lighthousefoundation.org or email ALF at info@lighthousefoundation.org