Accessibility: 
Geographic coordinates: 44° 12' 06" N 69° 02' 54" W
Nearest town: Camden. Located at the entrance to Camden Harbor, Penobscot Bay.
Established: 1835. Present lighthouse built: 1896. Automated: 1972.
Height of tower: 25 feet. Height of focal plane: 52 feet.
Earlier optic: Fourth-order Fresnel lens. Present optic: 300 mm.
Characteristic: Green light occulting every 4 seconds.
Camden’s well-protected harbor helped the town develop major lime kiln and shipbuilding industries in the nineteenth century. The first brick lighthouse on the small island was built in 1835, by order of President Andrew Jackson. H. K. M. Bowers was the first keeper.
The keeper’s house was rebuilt in 1889. The extant 25-foot brick tower replaced the earlier lighthouse in 1896. Six Coast Guardsmen were stationed on the island during World War II. It was reported that the men were treated like sons by keeper Myrick Morrison.
In the mid-1960s, John R. French, a Coast Guard keeper, transported four of his children—aged 6 to 12—to shore for school each day in his outboard motorboat. Two younger children sometimes went along for the ride. This was a vast improvement over the days when French was assigned to remote Matinicus Rock and saw his family only about once a month.
SIDE TRIP: Mount Battie and Camden Hills State Park
A highlight of 5,500-acre Camden Hills State Park is the scenic panorama from the summit of Mount Battie, with sweeping views of Penobscot Bay, including Curtis Island and its lighthouse. The park and the entrance to the Mount Battie Auto Road are just a few minutes north of Camden on Route 1. There are hiking trails, a campground, and picnic areas. The auto road is open from early May to early October.
Camden Hills State Park
280 Belfast Road
Camden, ME 04843
Phone: (207) 236-3109
Web site: www.maine.gov/doc/parks/
The town of Camden acquired the island after the light was automated. A fog bell from the station is on display in the public parking lot at Camden Harbor, and the old fourth-order Fresnel lens is on display in the Camden Public Library at 6 High Street. Under the Maine Lights Program, the lighthouse officially became the property of the town of Camden in 1998.
Fascinating Fact 
Curtis Island was previously called Negro Island, after an African cook who lived on the island. The name of the island was changed in 1934 in memory of Cyrus H.K. Curtis, publisher of the Saturday Evening Post and other publications and a longtime summer resident and benefactor of Camden.
This picturesque light station is difficult to see from land, but you might be able to get a partially obstructed view on Bayview Street. The lighthouse is best seen from cruises leaving Camden, including the Betselma (207-236-4446), the schooner Olad (207-236-2323, www.maineschooners.com), the Lively Lady Too (207-236-6672, www.livelyladytoo.com), the schooner Appledore II (207-236-8353, www.appledore2.com), and the schooner Surprise (207-236-4687, www.camdenmainesailing.com). For other sailing opportunities, check with the Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce (207-236-4404, www.camdenme.org).
