Portland head light

Portland Head Light is the most-visited lighthouse in Maine. This lighthouse is not only beautiful but also has a rich history fraught with structural and environmental challenges. Portland Head Light was first ordered to be constructed in 1787 by George Washington. The budget was set and paid by Alexander Hamilton. After four years the first lighthouse keeper was hired. He was underpaid and the conditions at the lighthouse were less than ideal. His successor finally brought attention to the poor conditions many years later.

Not only were the keepers complaining but the sea captains also took issue with the lighthouse. There was poor visibility of the light. Due to construction changes that resulted in narrowing the lantern room there was poor ventilation of the smoke which obscured the light. The lantern room was properly cleaned and improvement was noted. In 1850 new reflectors were installed but due to inadequate training of the keeper the light was not functioning properly. The keeper at the time was also rumored to only sound the fog signal for captains from whom he was receiving payments. Another upgrade was made in 1855 with a Fresnel lens and a new fog bell that would ring for all boats. Throughout the following years the tower was updated many times finally bringing the height to 101 feet above sea level.

The keepers of Portland Head Light have weathered many storms and have witnessed many shipwrecks. The Bohemian shipwreck in 1864 resulted in the death of forty people. There had been  95 skilled crewmen and 218 passengers on the boat. Due to dense fog and storm conditions the boat hit Alden’s rock and then began to sink. In 1886 the Annie C. Maguire crashed into the ledges below the lighthouse. The crash was so hard the keeper felt the tower shake. At the time the lighthouse was under the management of the Strouts. They rushed to the scene and rescued the captain, his wife and the crew. The beautiful ledges below the lighthouse have caused many shipwrecks and challenges throughout the years.

Portland Head Light and Fort Williams Park are now owned by the town of Cape Elizabeth and are open to the public. Our favorite way to view the lighthouse is obviously from the water but Fort Williams park is also a great option to get views of the lighthouse. Fort Williams park is perfect for a picnic.  Grab a takeout lunch from one of our favorite spots (we recommend Hank’s in Scarborough) and head to the park. There is a nice beach area and trails throughout. They have a beautiful garden area as well. The museum is located in the former Keeper’s home. Tours of the lighthouse are restricted to one day per year for the public. There is plenty of exploring to be had at Fort Williams Park and really is a must-see when visiting Maine in the summer. Visit PortlandHeadlight.com for more information.