Maine boasts 66 light stations along its shores. Each was purposefully positioned on low-lying peninsulas and small outcroppings along the most dangerous parts of Maine’s waterways. According to the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, the Gulf of Maine is warming faster than 99% of all other ocean surface on the planet, meaning the rate of change in rising seas and storm surges impacting Maine’s light stations is among the most extreme. This new reality crystallized most recently during a pair of January storms that saw crashing waves and ripping winds wreak havoc on light stations, causing an estimated $5.5 million in damage.

“Now is the time to raise awareness, develop strategies, and adapt Maine’s iconic light stations to be more resilient. Intentionally built in harm’s way hundreds of years ago, they are threatened today by one of the most rapidly changing and volatile bodies of water on the planet,” said Tara Kelly, executive director of Maine Preservation. “But Maine’s light stations can be repaired, prepared, and adapted—serving as a model for other vulnerable cultural resources along coasts around the globe.”

The World Monuments Watch was created in 1996 and is a proven tool for raising awareness about heritage places in need of protection and galvanizing support for their preservation. To date, World Monuments Fund (WMF) has contributed more than $110 million toward projects at more than 300 Watch sites, with the visibility provided by the Watch helping communities leverage an additional $300 million from other sources.

Maine Preservation is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving historic places, buildings, downtowns and neighborhoods—strengthening the cultural and economic vitality of Maine communities. For more information, visit mainepreservation.org.

World Monuments Fund (WMF) is the leading independent organization devoted to safeguarding the world’s most treasured places to enrich people’s lives and build mutual understanding across cultures and communities. The organization is headquartered in New York City with offices and affiliates in Cambodia, France, India, Peru, Portugal, Spain and the UK. Since 1965, our global team of experts has preserved the world's diverse cultural heritage using the highest international standards at more than 700 sites in 112 countries. For more information, visit https://www.wmf.org.