For those of you who've watched some of the shows that they do on unique homes around the country, you've likely seen one or two of the homes that are lighthouses.
If you've always thought that would be really cool, we've got a lighthouse here in Portsmouth Harbor that might be right up your alley!
Whaleback Lighthouse is actually in Kittery Maine, although many in Portsmouth New Hampshire consider it their tiny little lighthouse.
Whaleback is being offered by the US Coast Guard. Unfortunately, for those of us who live here and fortunately for some lucky person, the Coast Guard has deemed this lighthouse to be in 'excess of their needs'. Homeland Security issues have stretched the Coast Guard in so many other areas that the budget just doesn't allow them to properly maintain these types of historic structures.
~~ Whaleback Lighthouse can just barely be seen in the center of this picture above the rocks ~~
With the advent of automated beacons many years ago, lighthouse keepers haven't been needed like they were in the past. And because of that, they've determined that their needs today aren't the same as they were when all these lighthouses were built.
Whaleback Lighthouse is a great symbol of history to those who call this area home. "One-of-a-kind historic waterfront property, 59 feet high, with unobstructed views. Charming circular floor plan. Lots of light. Offered 'as is'." This is the wording from the write-up in our local paper, The Portsmouth Herald.
Whaleback was built sometime between 1829 and 1831, per order of President Andrew Jackson, and it marks the entrance to Portsmouth Harbor, which it was built to protect. The price to build this landmark back then was $21,000 - a lot of money then, a mere drop in the bucket today, that's for sure! In the late 1840's, another $25,000 was spent to re-furbish the lighthouse,
In 1872, a new lighthouse was erected on that site, as the previous one had been deemed too dangerous due to cracks in the foundation and in the tower. The cost to rebuild then was $75,000. In 2002 the rotating light beacons that were put in place in 1963 were replaced with smaller beacons that allowed for the conversion to solar power.
The National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act stipulates that the lighthouse be offered at no cost to other governmental agencies - federal, state, and local. Any interest from those types of agencies must be expressed via letter no later than August 17, 2007.
If there is no interest from eligible organizations, US General Service Administration has the authority to sell this historic lighthouse at auction. Since 2000, the GSA has given away or sold 43 different lighthouses around New England.
The operation of and maintaining of the light beacon will continue to be done by the Coast Guard, so it will continue as a navigation aid for those navigating the Portsmouth Harbor area.
If you're interested, the Open House Tours of this lighthouse will be on Sundays - 7/29. 8/26, 9/30, and 10/4 - from 1 to 5pm on those dates. There will also be tours on Saturday, 8/11, from 10am to 2pm.
What a unique opportunity this could be for someone looking for that really special place to make their new home!! Talk about waterfront, AND in a gorgeous area - a very unique offering indeed!
~~ Piscataqua River Downtown Portsmouth NH from Portsmouth Harbor ~~
If a making a lighthouse into your next home isn't quite what you're looking for, and you're interested in the Portsmouth New Hampshire areas or the Kittery Maine areas, I'm happy to help in your search. This is a fabulous place to visit and an even more special place to call HOME!!
To take a pictorial tour of this great area I call HOME, just click on the picture below. There are several tours in that link, and lots of pictures, so please allow time for them to load so you can fully enjoy each of the tours!
Ann Cummings, New Hampshire & Maine Broker
RE/MAX Coast to Coast
Portsmouth NH
ann@anncummings.com
888-349-5678 x 3839
Servicing the Coastal Areas of NH & Southern Maine 
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How cool would it be to actually own a lighthouse that is your home away from home??? And this one puts you in what I think is the greatest area ever to want to call HOME!!