Our replica of the Little River Lighthouse comes complete with:
- Cedar Wood Construction
- Aluminum exterior light housing
- Brass and Copper railings
- Windows that reflect light
- Standard 40 Watt Bulb, 120 Volt AC incandescent light fixture
- Hand crafted and hand painted detail
- Choice of interior or exterior wiring
Options available for the Little River Lighthouse are:
Width: 9 Inches
Shape: Conical
Weight: 9 Pounds
Marking the entrance to Cutler Harbor, Maine, the Little River Lighthouse Station was established in 1847 with a rubble stone tower and keeper's house. In 1855, the original lantern was replaced with a new cast iron lantern equipped with a fourth order Fresnel lens. The current tower was built in 1876 re-using the 1855 lantern from the original tower. The new tower was built from cast iron plate lined with brick. The keeper continued to live in the original keeper's house until 1888 when it was replaced with the 1.5 story wood frame Victorian house that remains today. The station was automated in 1974. The tower was deactivated in 1975 and replaced by a skeleton tower.
The Little River Lighthouse was the first lighthouse in New England to be transferred from U.S. Coast Guard ownership under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000. Now a steward of the American Lighthouse Foundation, the tower was repaired and relit in 2001. The ALF has completed a full restoration of the 1888 keeper's house and is currently working to replace the island's dock. Construction, maintenance and repair projects have been undertaken not only by members of the ALF, but by the US Coast Guard, Local Boy Scout troops and other volunteers. The ALF's goal is for a total restoration of the light station that will be open to the public. The Little River lighthouse continues to be an active aid to navigation displaying a white flash every 6 seconds from the white 41 foot tower topped by a green lantern room. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
October, 2005 Issue, Keeper Returns to Lighthouse after 32-year absence. "After a 32-year absence from Little River Lighthouse in Cutler, Maine, former lighthouse keeper Al Vachon returned to the lighthouse last week to work as a volunteer helping to restore the endangered beacon. Vachon had not set foot on the remote island since he left the Coast Guard in 1973 and the return trip brought back many wonderful memories of another era when life was very different." Please go to the Lighthouse Digest Magazine Archives to read this article. Lighthouse Digest magazine not only keeps the history of our lighthouses alive both in print and on line, but it is the best single source to keep current on all aspects of lighthouse preservation, news and events.
The Little River Lighthouse is located on Little River Island at the mouth of Cutler Harbor. The lighthouse is on the seaward side of the island and not readily visible from the mainland. The lighthouse is visible from the "Western Head Trail" located on the south side of the harbor. The nature trail is a couple of miles over rough terrain but provides close views of the Little River Lighthouse as well as distant views the Machias Seal Island and Southwestern Head Lights. The best views are by boat including Puffin watching cruises from Cutler to Machias Seal Island. Directions: From US Route 1 in Machias, turn south - east onto state route 191. Continue just over 13 miles to Cutler, Maine. There are no restaurants or accommodations in Cutler so remember to bring anything you need with you.
Please visit the American Lighthouse Foundation's Little River Lighthouse website for information on their prerservation efforts and visiting the Little River Lightstation.
Captain Andrew Patterson provides boat tours from Cutler Harbor that include close views of the Little River Lighthouse. Please visit the Bold Coast Charter Company web site for tour schedules and information.
For more photographs and history of the Little River Lighthouse, you can visit the:
United States Coast Guard Historians' Official Web Site
New England Lighthouses - A Virtual Guide
Lighthouse Explorer Database