Perkins

A fine river island about three miles up from the mouth of the Kennebec, Perkins has a squat lighthouse, established in 1898, and several shuttered station buildings on the steep west side. Weather and time have taken their toll on these historic structures, but a community effort is underway to preserve what remains of the station infrastructure. The pyramid-shaped bell tower, which had fallen into disrepair, was restored with the help of state funding and a MITA volunteer work crew in 2000. Thanks to the generosity of neighboring landowners and assistance from the [American Lighthouse Foundation](http://www.lighthousefoundation.org/), the deteriorating keepers house has been stabilized, restored and repainted, and further rehabilitation of the bell tower, oil house and barn is underway. Please note that all of the buildings on Perkins are sealed shut and are not open to the public.

The best way to access the island is on the east side. There is a small dock for visitor use and a projecting ledge that provides a protected landing area out of the rushing tides. A path leads from the dock and ledge to a large camping area sheltered by conifers. From the campsite, an interior loop path leads to the lighthouse and keepers quarters on the west side of the island. From the keepers quarters, the path continues south past the bell tower and oil house to a tidally dependent beach on the southern tip of the island. The trail then continues back to the campsite.