Press Releases

Today, Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin wrote to United States Coast Guard Curator, Arlyn Danielson, to help support the preservation of the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland.  The artifacts on loan to the museum are viewed and appreciated by thousands of tourist and Mainers.

Recently, the United States Coast Guard held a productive meeting with leaders of the Maine Lighthouse Museum and representatives from the City of Rockland to discuss the museum’s inventory and a possible long term artifact loan. 

In their letter to Coast Guard Curator Arlyn Danielson, Representatives Pingree and Poliquin wrote, “Maine is home to nearly sixty historic lighthouses, and every year thousands of people travel to our state to visit them. Recognizing the draw that these iconic structures have for tourists and residents alike, a decorated Coast Guard retiree founded the Maine Lighthouse Museum – an effort which would not have been possible without the generous loan of artifacts from the Coast Guard’s collection. 

“We feel strongly that retaining these items from the Coast Guard’s collection would bolster the museum’s ability to provide an educational and cultural experience to our constituents and the many tourists who visit the museum each year.”

The following is the full text of the letter:

June 11, 2015 

Ms. Arlyn Danielson

Coast Guard Curator

U.S. Coast Guard Exhibit Center

Dear Ms. Danielson

 We write to you today to encourage the preservation of the Maine Lighthouse Museum located in Rockland, Maine. It has come to our attention that the U. S. Coast Guard recently met with the Maine Lighthouse Museum leaders and representatives from the City of Rockland.  We understand that the meeting was productive and there is discussion of a renewed artifact loan agreement, inventory, and the possibility of a longer term loan being made directly to the Maine Lighthouse Museum. We are encouraged to hear of this development because the artifacts on loan to the museum are extremely valuable to Midcoast Maine, Rockland as a Coast Guard City, and the museum and our constituents.

Maine is home to nearly sixty historic lighthouses, and every year thousands of people travel to our state to visit them. Recognizing the draw that these iconic structures have for tourists and residents alike, a decorated Coast Guard retiree founded the Maine Lighthouse Museum – an effort which would not have been possible without the generous loan of artifacts from the Coast Guard’s collection. For the past ten years, a dedicated group of supporters have continued to be stewards of the objects, allowing the public to better understand and appreciate Maine’s maritime history.     

Although we acknowledge that the museum has faced financial and maintenance challenges over the past year, the museum staff has reassured us that those problems in no way endangered the condition of any of the artifacts.  In fact, as the museum prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary this year, staff and supporters have raised $20,000 to facilitate the continued presence of these artifacts in Rockland.

We feel strongly that retaining these items from the Coast Guard’s collection would bolster the museum’s ability to provide an educational and cultural experience to our constituents and the many tourists who visit the museum each year. The museum has proven to be an asset to Maine’s coastal region, and although we applaud the Coast Guard’s stewardship of its collection at the Coast Guard Museum in New London, we feel strongly that these artifacts should continue to be available for viewing by visitors to Northern New England.

We encourage the Coast Guard to carefully consider the impacts of its actions before removing any artifacts from the Maine Lighthouse Museum. It has truly proven to provide a benefit to our constituents that could not be easily replaced.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.