Into the Lantern: A Lighthouse Experience, a full-scale replication of the Cape Elizabeth Two Lights lighthouse tower lantern room, allows visitors to see the original second-order Fresnel lens from the east tower at Two Lights and experience the environment of the lantern room through time-lapsed video projections featuring a panorama of the Gulf of Maine that changes with the weather and seasons. This immersive exhibit is the first of its kind anywhere.
“The Into the Lantern exhibit at the Maine Maritime Museum is a beautifully designed, immersive experience that does justice to the ‘jewel of the lighthouse,’ the Fresnel lens. These beautiful works of functional art were one of the pinnacles of 19th century technology, and it’s wonderful to see one displayed in such a thoughtful way. I have visited many lens exhibits in many museums, and this is the best I’ve seen.” – Jeremy D’Entremont, author and historian for the American Lighthouse Foundation.
“Simply put, if you have imagined what it might be like to experience serene and stormy scenes from atop a lighthouse – all the while basking in the warm glow of a breathtaking Fresnel lens, then the Maine Maritime Museum’s Into the Lantern exhibit is for YOU! The recreated majesty of Cape Elizabeth’s lantern is literally stunning. This one-of-a-kind experience will astound the visitor with its exquisite beauty, detail and ability to transport admirers back in time when lighthouse keepers kept a vigilant eye seaward as they helped protect the mariner from the perils of the sea. If you desire one lighthouse experience that will prove to be both amazing and memorable, then Into the Lantern is a must-see!” – Bob Trapani, Executive Director, American Lighthouse Foundation
Thank you to the generous donors who supported this project:
Anonymous
Charles and Elizabeth Barker
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Geoffrey and Lindsay Alexander
Anonymous
Stephen and Joanne Caulfield
Harry W. Konkel
National Park Service, Maritime Heritage Program
Susan and Jackson Parker
Portland Head Light Fund
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William and Sally Gemmill
The Edgard and Geraldine Feder Foundation, Inc.
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The Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust
Martin and Elizabeth Lakeman
Charles and Gerry Orem
David M. Porter
John and Sheila Zittel
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Paul and Giselaine Coulombe
Karl and Joan Lauenstein
Michael and Rande May
The Reny Charitable Foundation
Joseph and Susan Spagnola
Mary Louise and Phineas Sprague
Dix and Nancy Druce
Christopher and Jane Flower
John, Elizabeth, Louis & Kelley Frumer
Marshall and Catherine Goldman
Chuck and Shelby Hodgkins
Maine Antique Dealers Association
P.W. Sprague Memorial Foundation
Seth and Laura Sprague
Elena D. Vandervoort
Jennifer G. Yahr
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Peter and Becky Alter
Verna W. Andrews
Joel and Kim Bassett
David C. Bellows
Philip C. Blauvelt
William and Karen Burke
Kimberley and Christopher Byrd
Peter and Susan Dublin
Julie Sheehan and Caroline, Charles, and Charlotte Emerson
Bill and Karen Gallagher
Richard and Cate Gilbane
Diana and Joseph Govern
Virgil and Nancy Hancock
Anne K. Hewes
Nick and Joan Hurd
Cy and Gail Kendrick
Wendell and Suelle Large
Kent and Ernestine Lawrence
Marjorie N. Platou
The Redmond Family Foundation
John and Mathilde Rothwell
Gregory and Pamela Salerno
David and Trisha Sheaff
Jack and Sibyl Tingley
Jay M. Trudeau
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With special thanks to architectural firm Barba + Wheelock; and builder, Zachau Construction