Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse located in the Acadia National Park in Maine. Built in 1858, it is the only lighthouse on Mount Desert Island. It is situated on the southern side of the island overlooking Bass Harbor Bar and the Atlantic Ocean. The need for the lighthouse became clear as many mariners were struggling to navigate into Bass Harbor. In 1855, the lighthouse inspector, W.B. Franklin, reported that a lighthouse on Bass Harbor Head was truly a necessity. On August 18, 1856, Congress allotted the funds necessary to purchase land and establish a light station on Bass Harbor Head.
The lighthouse was built in 1858 and went into service that year. It is a white, cylindrical brick tower with a black lantern room. It stands 33 feet tall and its focal height is 56 feet. The lighthouse is currently equipped with a a Henry-Lepaute fourth-order lens which features an occulting red flash every 4 seconds. The light has a range of 13 nautical miles. It is currently an active navigational aid owned by the National Park Service. The Coast Guard transferred ownership to the NPS in 2017.
