As part of Maine's sixth annual Open Lighthouse Day, Saturday, Sept. 13, Burnt Island Light will be hosting tours from 9 a.m. to noon. Admission to the island and all of the buildings is free.

Visitors will depart from Pier 8 aboard the Miss Boothbay (20 passengers at a time) at 9 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Return trip will be aboard the Novelty (75 passenger capacity). Tickets for the round-trip boat ride, are $10 for adults and $5 for children 11 and under.

Burnt Island is the home of Maine's only living history lighthouse tour program, which began on June 30, 2003. Visitors on Lighthouse Day will be greeted by interpreters portraying Joseph Muise and his wife Annie Muise. Joseph was Burnt Island's lighthouse keeper from 1936 to 1951.

Department of Marine Resources Education Director Elaine Jones will be in the island's education center, built in 2007 in the design style of an old lifesaving station. Jones will run a PowerPoint presentation on the history of the island, the island's restoration years (1998-2003), the living history program, the student summer camp sessions, teacher recertification programs, and other educational offerings on Burnt Island.

Other interpreters will be in the keeper's house, which was restored to the way it was in 1950, thanks to photographs and information provided by family members that were still living in the Boothbay region at the time.

The boathouse, which houses a peapod (a double-ended rowing boat built for fishing and lobstering), will be open down on the water, and depending on the tide, a nice little beach area is right nearby.

Visitors will be able to climb the spiral staircase of the tower (in small groups) to the lantern room, view the historic photographs and documents in the covered walkway, and then explore the five-acre island. The views are spectacular – whether looking out to sea or the island itself – so don't forget your camera!

Refreshments will be served including cookies, apples, coffee, tea, and Burnt Island's very own blend, created especially by (the late) Nancy Hilton of MacNab's Tea Room.

Burnt Island Green is composed of organic rose hips, gunpowder green tea (very popular during the Colonial period – the light station dates back to 1821), Moroccan mint (wild mint grows on the island), and China beauty rings for a hint of smoke (it is “burnt” island, after all).

The island's gift shop will also be open – pick up a Burnt Island coffee/tea mug, a tin of Burnt Island tea, hats, T's, sweatshirts and more.

For more information about Burnt Island, it's living history program, teacher and student educational programming and volunteer opportunities, visit www.keepersofburntislandlight.com.