The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places as Matinicus Rock Light Station on March 14, 1988.

The light station occupies the center of the rock, and includes two towers, a keeper's house, shed, and boathouse.

[5] In 1827 the United States Lighthouse Service erected a pair of wooden light towers and a cobblestone keeper's residence on Matinicus Rock.

In 1857 the government rebuilt the towers and placed them 180 feet (55 m) apart to make them more effective; the north light was deactivated in 1924.

Matinicus Rock is known as being the southernmost nesting site for the Atlantic puffin and as of 2009, the common murre.