The Pocket Lighthouse is a mobile & smart phone accessory that allows you to harness the magnifying power of a Fresnel lens. Historic lighthouses widely used Fresnel lenses, developed by Augustin-Jean Fresnel in the 1820's, to create powerful, focus beams from a single lamp, revolutionizing maritime navigation by making their light visible for much greater distances. These complex, beehive-like structures use refracting prisms to concentrate light. When you step into the lantern room of our exhibit, Into the Lantern: A Lighthouse Experience, visitors can view the original second-order Fresnel lens from the east tower at Two Lights, Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Turn your phone's flashlight into a magnificent beam of light!
