About Goose Rocks

In November 2006, Beacon Preservation took over the preservation and management of Goose Rocks Lighthouse off North Haven, Maine. Goose Rocks is a 51-foot “spark plug” or “coffeepot” design cast iron offshore lighthouse. Located in Fox Island Thorofare between North Haven and Vinalhaven, Maine, Goose Rocks was built in 1890.

The lighthouse has floors inside the cast iron circular shell, most of which is lined with brick walls unless otherwise noted. When possible, a balance of original detail, historic accuracy, and modern safety and convenience have allowed us to furnish most of the lighthouse with antiques and décor appropriate to the turn-of-the-century era in which Goose Rocks was built. Scrapbooks, prints, and showcased mementos from Goose Rocks make it a habitable museum to be wandered and appreciated.

The "Keep" is at ground level, a cellar-style 22’ diameter room with brick-walled storage alcoves, dining table, Aga stove and kitchen area, and eco-friendly bathroom facilities.
The "Sitting Room" is the heart of the lighthouse, on the first-floor catwalk level, 18’ in diameter, and the first thing you see as you enter through the main door from the main covered deck. It offers a cozy ambience and comfortable seating for 8, with propane parlor stove, wind-up Victrola, writing desk, bookcase, (holding cache of books, games, movies, and music). An “aero-bed” is provided for overflow sleeping arrangements on the floor when necessary. The landing in the front entrances of the sitting room offers a curved staircase downward to the Keep, or upwards to the Keeper’s Quarters.
The "Keeper’s Quarters”, at the second level is 18’ in diameter, featuring a queen-sized bed with nightstands, linen chest, writing desk, armoire, and reading chair, with three full-sized windows overlooking the Thorofare. The staircase at the landing continues upwards to the next bedroom.
The ''Captain's Quarters" at the third level is also 18’ in diameter, with brick-lined walls and architectural iron ceiling showing the intricate construction of Goose Rocks. It offers a queen-sized bed, dresser, writing desk, and French vitrine; six portholes around the circumference offer diffuse light from all directions. A slanted ladder in the Captain’s Quarters takes the hardy up through a hatch to the bunkroom.
The "Crows Nest" bunkroom: maple bunk beds on the 4th level provide overflow sleeping or lounging quarters for two extra people; the room is 10’ in diameter and lined with original beadboard panels, featuring a door leading out to the watch deck, and a ladder leading up through a small hatch to the lantern.
"Beacon Room": this room is the pinnacle of the structure, only 6’ in diameter, and houses the flashing light mechanism to guide navigators through the thoroughfare at night. The upper walls of the hexagon room are composed of red-tinted glass with a full 360° view of the Thorofare, with a marble bistro table and two chairs for those who wish to linger with book or play cards with a friend. A small hatch on the lower half of one wall leads to the exterior beacon deck.

During the summer, Beacon Preservation features several “Lighthouse Day” open house events that allow the public to visit and walk through Goose Rocks at no cost—although donations are always welcome! Refreshments are served, descendents of lighthouse keepers are on hand to recount their ancestor’s nautical tales, and all visitors are free to enjoy the history of Goose Rocks, learn about our sustainable energy system plans, sit and read in the parlor, or even set up an easel on a deck and paint the scenery. It is our small way of thanking our supporters and community while ensuring that lighthouses remain accessible to the public.