Notes:
(1) Portland Breakwater Light was completed in 1855 to mark a 2,500-feet Breakwater constructed for protecting the wharves and buildings of Portland’s waterfront.

      Plans for a Breakwater and Lighthouse were designed after a November 1831 storm severely damaged wharves and buildings.  Construction of the Breakwater began in 1836 and 1,800-feet uncapped Breakwater was built before a loss of funds suspended completion.  Until 1855, the Breakwater was a dangerous navigational hazard.

      Portland Breakwater Lighthouse was authorized in 1854 and a wooden octagonal pyramidal tower was built with that was First Lit on August 1, 1855 exhibiting a Fixed Red Light varied by a red flash every minute illuminated by a Sixth-order Fresnel lens visible to range of 10-miles in clear weather.  The first Light Keepers encountered hazardous waves, wind, and ice as they walked on the Breakwater to tend the Light.

      The Lighthouse was important in safely guiding the shipping trade of Lumber and Molasses.  By 1858, lumber was 78% of Portlands’ exports and molasses and sugar from the Caribbean was 71% of the imports.  Portland’s accessible deep-water harbor established Portland as a commercial distribution center for northern New England.

      In the early 1870’s, the breakwater was extended 200-feet and a new Greek-revival Conical Cast iron with brick lining Lighthouse was constructed with a Sixth-order Fresnel lens that was First Lit in June of 1875.  The Greek-revival design was based upon the Greek Choragic Monument of Lysicrates, built in the fourth century B.C.  The original Lighthouse was moved to Little Diamond Island and used as a lookout tower for buoy tenders.

      In 1886, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers capped the Breakwater with coursed granite blocks and a two room wooden Keeper’s House was built adjacent to the lighthouse in 1889.

      In 1897, a Fog signal was established at the Lighthouse when a 400-pound fog bell was moved from the nearby Stanford Ledge Buoy.  A 1,000-pound fog bell replaced the original bell in 1903 and 200-tons of rip-rap stones were placed around the Lighthouse in 1904.

      In 1934, both the Portland Breakwater Light and neighboring Spring Point Ledge Light were converted to electricity and automated. The Keeper’s House was removed and Light Keeper of Spring Point Ledge tended both Lighthouses.

      Portland Breakwater Lighthouse was discontinued in 1942 after expanding shipyards filled the mud flats adjacent to the Light during the early 1940s.  The Breakwater was reduced to where the Lighthouse was only 100-feet from the bank.  During World War II, 236 Liberty ships were built on the site.  The Lighthouse was sold as private property.

      In 1985, the Lighthouse was donated to the City of South Portland by Spring Point Associates and the Light was renovated in 1989.  Afterwards, the Lighthouse deteriorated during 1990s.  The Spring Point Ledge Light Trust and Cape Elizabeth Rotary Club restored the Bug Light as a Private Aid to Navigation on August 14, 2002 exhibiting Flashing White Light every four seconds illuminated by a modern 250 mm optic.

(2) Sixth-order Fresnel Lens was removed to South Portland Coast Guard Station in 1993.

(3) Directions From Portland:
US-1A (West Commercial St), Turn right onto ME 77 over the Casco Bay Bridge into South Portland,
Turn Left onto Broadway and travel for about 1.5 miles, Turn Left onto Breakwater Drive,
Bear Right onto Madison Street and continue to the free parking area at Bug Light Park.