Thomas Jefferson signed the order in 1806 authorizing construction of a lighthouse at West Quoddy. The tower was finished in 1808, and guided ships through the Quoddy Narrows, between the U.S. and Canada, until 1858 when it was replaced with the current tower and keeper's house.
The lantern is fitted with a third-order fresnel lens. The distinctive red and white bands make this light picturesque and a popular photographic choice for calendars and commercials.
The light is located in Quoddy Head State Park, as far east as you can drive in the U.S.
