Located on 3 acres sold to the government by Mr. Francis Grindle, The USLHS established the original Grindle Point Lighthouse in 1850 serving Islesboro’s Gilkey Harbor.  Mr. Grindle went on to become the second keeper at his namesake lighthouse in 1853.  The 28 foot tall brick tower became a victim of the elements and had to be replaced in 1874.  The new 39 foot tall, square brick tower was built on the original 1850 tower’s foundation and a new one and a half story wooden keeper’s house was attached to the opposite end of the original keeper’s house.  The one story 1850 keeper’s house became an enclosed connector between the new tower and the new keeper’s house.  The station also received a boathouse in 1881 and an oil house in 1906, both of which were removed and the lighthouse itself de-activated in 1934. The original 5th order Fresnel lens was removed and an automated modern optic atop a skeleton tower became the official aid to navigation.  The Town of Islesboro purchased the lighthouse in 1934 and created the Sailor’s Memorial Museum in the keeper’s house.  After its’ 53 years of retirement, the Grindle Point Lighthouse was returned to service when the residents of Islesboro succeeded in their efforts to have the USCG return the optic to the lighthouse tower. Re-activated November 4th, 1987, the lighthouse is again the official aid to navigation and now displays a solar powered modern lens in the lantern room.  A vintage 1881 fog bell was loaned by the Shore Village Museum Collection (now the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland, ME.) and is displayed on a cradle mount on the south side of the tower.

The Grindle Point Lighthouse remains an active aid to navigation displaying a green light that flashes every four seconds.  The optic is maintained by the USCG and the remainder of the station is maintained as the Sailor’s Memorial Museum by the Town of Islesboro.  The lighthouse is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Grindle Point Lighthouse is located adjacent to the Maine State Ferry Landing in Islesboro on Maine's Penobscot Bay. The island and lighthouse are accesible by car ferry departing the mainland from Lincolnville, ME.
Directions: From US Route 1 in Camden, Maine travel north about 5.7 miles to a right turn onto McKay Road in Lincolnville.  Follow the signs for the Islesboro Ferry.  Purchase your tickets in the ferry terminal before boarding the ferry.  If you only plan on visiting the Grindle Point Lighthouse and the Sailor’s Memorial Museum, you can opt to park your car at Lincolnville and ride the ferry at the pedestrian rate as everything is located at the ferry landing in Islesboro. 

Visit the The Maine State Ferry Service Web Site for the Islesboro and Lincolnville Ferry Schedule

For more photographs and history of the Grindle Point Lighthouse, you can visit the:

United States Coast Guard Historians' Official Web Site

Lighthouse Explorer Database

New England Lighthouses - A Virtual Guide