Mt.Desert Rock was built in 1830, and is
the most isolated on the Maine Coast.
The island is about 600 yards long
and 200 yards wide and
17 feet above sea level, and
about 25 nautical miles south
of Mt.Desert Island.
A short wooden tower on top of the
keeper's stone dwelling was the first light,
which had a system of eigth
lamps fueled by whale oil.
A new 58 foot granite tower replaced the
weather beaten tower in 1847.
In 1858 a third order Fresnel lens was installed,
along with a fog bell and bell tower,
but since the bell could not be heard
above the crashing surf, it was replaced
with a fog whistle in 1889.
