Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse 1

Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse 1

The light from the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse glows out of the fog.

Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse is on the end of a 4,364 foot breakwater made of local granite. Congress approved construction of a breakwater in 1880 by the Army Corps of Engineers. Although the breakwater was built in 1899, it was not tall enough to withstand winter storms that year. A 4 foot cap was added in 1901 and a base for the lighthouse was constructed at the same time. A lantern on a crane was used as a temporary beacon until the lighthouse was completed in 1902.
"History of the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse," Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, https://www.rocklandharborlights.org/history/ (Accessed May 17, 2025)

When Photographer Eliot Elisofon was not traveling the world taking photos for LIFE Magazine, he came to Vinalhaven, Maine to rest and recoup. Eliot bought a farmhouse near Crockett Cove on Vinalhaven in 1941, built by Joel and Mary Jane Philbrook in 1843.
Daughter Elin writes, “My father always said his favorite place on earth was Vinalhaven and he meant it. Wherever he was, he was counting the days until he could return to the island. Here he would 'recharge his batteries' from grueling trips to Africa, Asia, the Pacific, or from battles with the publishers and editors he had to constantly prod into sharing his passion and understanding his vision. In Vinalhaven he could relax, soak up the beauty of the place, plant trees, flowers, and vegetables, paint in his studio, cook, and develop the lifelong friendships he treasured."
Elisofon, Elin. FEAST. (Vinalhaven, Maine: April, 1992)
These images are personal photographs taken by Eliot Elisofon on Vinalhaven and were not published during his lifetime.