Name and Location

The Cape Neddick "Nubble" Lighthouse is officially known as the Cape Neddick Light Station. Its local nickname is "Nubble Light." Located at Sohier Park Road in the Cape Neddick neighborhood of York, York County, Maine 03909, USA, it sits on a rocky islet approximately 200 meters offshore.

Construction and History

The lighthouse was authorized by Congress in 1879 and first lit on November 15, 1879. It remains an active aid to navigation under U.S. Coast Guard control. The tower has been automated, with no recorded date for its automation, but it is currently unmanned. The lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on April 16, 1985, with Ref. #85000844.

Architecture and Materials

The architect or builder of the lighthouse is unknown, but it features a conical masonry tower built using rubble-stone core faced in brick/Portland cement, typical of late 19th-century Maine lights. The tower stands at 12.5 meters above its base, with a site elevation of 14.3 meters and a focal plane height of 26.8 meters.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse's light characteristic is an Iso R 6 s, featuring an isophase red light with a duration of 3 seconds on and 3 seconds off. Its range extends to 13 nautical miles. The original lens was a fifth-order Fresnel, which has been maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse island is closed to visitors, but it can be viewed from Sohier Park (no entry fee) during park hours from dawn to dusk year-round. No interior tours are available; instead, interpretive panels and benches overlook the islet.

Notable Views and Landscape

Perched on a wave-pounded rock surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Nubble Light is framed by spruce and wind-sculpted pines onshore. Visitors enjoy unobstructed views of the tower, neighboring York Harbor, and the distant Isles of Shoals, making it a favorite spot for photographers at sunrise and sunset.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse's seamark IDs are US 044042702512345 (building), US 003451133964356 (light), and US 003451133764356 (fog signal). The U.S. Coast Guard controls the operational aspects of the lighthouse, while the Town of York manages the surrounding parkland.

Further Information

For more information, visit the official "Friends of Nubble Light" website at http://nubblelight.org/ or consult Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Neddick_Light.