While Brett and I were in Maine for the Memorial Day weekend, we got to take in the sights and sounds of the area. And let me tell y’all, it was beautiful!
We made sure our tour of Maine included a visit to the Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth. Easy to find at the Fort Williams Park, the landmark is a famous snapshot of Maine’s charm.
But who knew it had such history? The lighthouse at Portland Head has long protected Portland and the surrounding area…and not just the ships at sea. In 1776, the town of Cape Elizabeth posted a guard of eight soldiers at Portland Head to warn citizens of coming British attacks.
In 1787, the Massachusetts legislature provided $750 to begin construction of a lighthouse. In 1790, Congress appropriated $1,500 for its completion. The original tower measured 72′ from base to lantern deck and was lit with 16 whale oil lamp…and first lit on January 10, 1791. By 1864, a 4th order Fresnel lens and a cast iron staircase were installed in the lighthouse.
From the lighthouse you can see a rock painted on the shoreline. It took a little research, but we finally figured out the story…on Christmas Eve in 1886, the Annie C. Maguire struck the ledge at Portland Head. The lighthouse keeper was able to rig an ordinary ladder to serve as a gangplank between the shore and the ledge the ship was smashed against. No one knows for sure what caused the wreck is puzzling since visibility was not a problem.
These days, the United States Coast Guard maintains the actual light and the fog signal, but the remainder of the property is managed by the Town of Cape Elizabeth.
Today Portland Head Light is a museum, gift shop and tourist attraction that will make for some great Kodak moments and memories. We were amazed at how impressive the view was (you don’t see a lot of lighthouses in our stomping grounds) and would highly recommend a visit to Maine anytime!
