Bass Harbor Head Light – Acadia National Park – Maine – Part 12

After a week in Maine, Andy saved one of the most iconic spots in Acadia National Park, Bass Harbor Head Light, as the final stop of our epic trip!  After an afternoon stop at Asticou Azalea Garden (Part 11) and our final dinner together, we drove to the lighthouse.

We took the long stairway down the cliff and then climbed farther down the rocks to get the best view of the lighthouse.    As we waited for sunset more & more people came down the cliff.   That was the big challenge as they wanted to get a good view, too.  They climbed out to the rocks that were further out in the water and passed through or obstructed my view of the lighthouse.

We had to shoot around and past the many people.   Switching to my longer telephoto, Nikon 70-200mm, helped to narrow the area of view.  My Benro travel tripod was steady enough to sit on the varied surface of the rocks and hold the Nikon D810 and this bigger lens.

From Wikipedia:

The history of Bass Harbor Head Light dates to 1855, when it was determined that there was sufficient reason for a lighthouse at the mouth of Bass Harbor. In 1885, the U.S. Congress appropriated $5,000 for construction of the lighthouse. In 1876, construction was completed on a fog bell and tower, since removed.  A much larger 4,000-pound (1800 kg) bell was placed inside the tower in 1898. The house of the lightkeeper remains in its original configuration with the exception of a 10-foot addition that was added in 1900. The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places as Bass Harbor Head Light Station on January 21, 1988, reference number 87002273.

In 1902, an oil storage house constructed of brick was built 205 feet northwest of the lighthouse.

Bass Harbor’s fifth order Fresnel lens was replaced in 1902 with a larger fourth order. This lens was manufactured by the French company Henry-Lepaute. This lens remains in service today.

As the sun went down the sky went through all the colorful changes.

It was also a challenge to catch the lighthouse light as it rotated around.

We stayed until dark was about to fall.   It was hard to leave this iconic place.  The essence of Maine, for me, was in this view!

Bass Harbor Head Light is another must visit place in  Acadia National Park.

This was the final stop of a wonderful week of traveling and photographing the coast of Maine.   It was a trip that I won’t ever forget!   Thank you AD Wheeler, Danielle, Mary Presson Roberts, Greg Croasdill & Mitch Russo for being such amazing photo friends.  I can’t wait for our next adventure!

That is all for now!

Lynn