Whaleback Light Even though it guards the entrance to New Hampshire harbor on the Piscataqua River, the lighthouse is in Maine waters. President Andrew Jackson authorized construction in 1829, to build a 48 foot stone tower on the submerged ledge and was completed in 1831 In 1855 a fourth order Fresnel lens was installed and a fog bell tower in 1859. By 1868 storms from the last forty years had so badly damaged the lighthouse that in 1872, construction of a new 75 foot tower was underway and built of granite blocks and when finished the old tower taken down. Automated in 1964 and a Fresnel lens installed.