Ram Island Ledge Light
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Ram Island Ledge Light Ram Island Ledge Light is a lighthouse in Casco Bay, ME. In 1855 an iron spindle was erected to protect sailors from dangerous underwater ledges surrounding Ram Island Ledge. The ledge continued to be the site of repeated shipwrecks. On February 24, 1900 the Allan Line steamship Californian (formerly named the State of California) ran aground on the ledge while en route from Portland to Glasgow, Scotland via Halifax, Nova Scotia. As a result of that accident, the United States Congress appropriated funds to build a lighthouse. Construction began on May 1, 1903 and was completed in 1905. It is a twin of the Graves Light off Boston. The lighthouse was built of granite quarried from Vinalhaven, Maine. The lighthouse originally included a third-order Fresnel lens. The lighthouse was electrified in 1958, and then automated in 1959. The light was converted to solar power in January 2001. The Ram Island Ledge Light was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 14, 1988. As of July 2010, Ram Island Ledge Light has been put up for sale to the general public. The minimum bid is $10,000. The property was initially made available at no charge to other government agencies, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations, but no interest was shown. Not to be confused with Ram Island Light in boothbay Harbor ME. |
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Ram Island Ledge Light In 1855 an iron spindle was erected to protect sailors from dangerous underwater ledges surrounding Ram Island Ledge. The ledge continued to be the site of repeated shipwrecks. On February 24, 1900 the Allan Line steamship Californian (formerly named the State of California) ran aground on the ledge while en route from Portland to Glasgow, Scotland via Halifax, Nova Scotia. As a result of that accident, the United States Congress appropriated funds to build a lighthouse. Construction began 1903 and was completed in 1905. It is a twin of the Graves Light off Boston. The lighthouse was built of granite quarried from Vinalhaven, Maine. The lighthouse originally included a third-order Fresnel lens. The lighthouse was electrified in 1958, and then automated in 1959. The light was converted to solar power in January 2001. The Ram Island Ledge Light was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 14, 1988. Photo 66, Oct 2010 |
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Ram Island Ledge Light Photo 65, Oct 2010 |
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Ram Island Ledge Light in Casco Bay, visible from Portland Head Light Station. The ledge is awash to the left. From Portland Head Light Photo 42, Sept 2011 |
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