Portland Head Light Lighthouse
On my recent visit to Maine, I enjoyed visiting the famous Portland Head Light Lighthouse. Portland Head Light is located in Cape Elizabeth Maine, on the shores of the beautiful Fort Williams Park. Portland Head Light looks out over the Portland Harbor which is within Casco Bay in the Gulf of Maine.
In addition to the lighthouse, Fort Williams Park offers ninety acres of hiking, picnic facilities, sports & recreation views, and the most stunning ocean views!
A Brief Lighthouse History Lesson
In 1787, construction on the lighthouse began (for the UNBELIEVABLY low cost of $750!), and was completed in 1791. The first lighting of the tower was on January 10, 1791. Portland Head Light is the oldest lighthouse in Maine. During the American Civil War, raids on shipping in and out of Portland Harbor had become commonplace, and because the lighthouse was so necessary, the structure was raised an additional 20 feet.
Today Portland Head Light stands 80 feet above ground and 101 feet above water. The light station is now automated and the tower, beacon, and foghorn are maintained by the United States Coast Guard. Portland Head Light Lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Keeper’s Quarters
The current keepers’ house was built in 1891, and up until 1989, it was home to lighthouse keepers. The keepers’ house and grounds are owned by the town of Cape Elizabeth and are now operated as a maritime museum.
Everything You Need To Know For Your Visit To Portland Head Light!
Fort Williams Park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. There is NO admission fee to the park, but some parking areas do have a small fee.
I visited Portland Head Light in June and the weather was unexpectedly chilly (for me anyway, I’m a NC native and June means HOT). Be sure to dress in layers during your visit to the lighthouse, I’m told the temp never goes above 70 degrees!
While there were plenty of visitors to the park, it was never overwhelmingly crowded, with more than enough room for everyone to see and enjoy the sights. As always, I do recommend arriving early to get the best photographs!
For food, don’t miss the Bite Into Maine food truck! The food truck is parked at the top of a hill right inside Fort Williams Park and they serve the most delicious lobster rolls! Don’t worry, my next blog post is all about Bite Into Maine so you’ll be able to see and learn more about their awesome food. In addition to Bite Into Maine, there are Gelato carts and other food options in the park, and with all of the picnic areas, you can certainly bring and enjoy your own food!
Thanks For Joining Me In Maine!
Looking out at the water and seeing the colored lobster buoys in the water felt like such a quintessential Maine experience that I’ll forever be grateful for! Please be sure to stay tuned for my next post, all about the delicious lobster roll truck inside Fort Miller Park!
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