Return to Petit Manan Light Station

My heart beat faster as we approached the island. It had been 26 years since I last saw Petit Manan. Visitors are always warmly greeted on this lonely outpost, and we were no exception. A young Coast Guardman met us at the slip and made us welcome. We identified ourselves and asked permission to tour the island. There is something about a lighthouse which stirs the imagination and delights the soul. Perhaps it's the lighted beacon, a symbol of safety to vessels plying unpredictable winter waters. Maybe it's the solitude of a lighthouse, with its promise of tranquility. Or it could be the very permanence of the lighthouse, standing proudly as it defies the turbulent seas. Whatever the reason, people have always been intrigued by them.