Cuckolds Light Station

Perched on two wave-washed granite islets at the westerly edge of the channel leading into Boothbay Harbor, Cuckolds Light Station is one of Maine’s most dramatic offshore landmarks. The twin rocks rise only about 15 feet above high water, creating a striking silhouette against the open Atlantic and underscoring the isolation faced by the keepers who once lived and worked there.

The station first opened in 1892 as a fog signal station, its powerful signal blaring through the region’s frequent, blinding fog to guide vessels safely toward harbor. In 1907, the site expanded to include a lighthouse, adding a visual beacon to complement the sound signal and further enhance navigational safety at the entrance to Boothbay Harbor.

Over the decades, advances in technology reduced the need for on-site keepers, and the station eventually fell into disrepair. Weather and neglect took their toll on the remote structures. Yet the story did not end there. In recent years, the property was restored and can be seen by boat or from the public landing at the tip of Southport Island.