Notes:
(1) Portland Head Light was built to mark the entrance to Portland Harbor.
      The Sixteenth Lighthouse established in America and Seventh lighthouse built in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  For 29 years, Portland Head Light was a Massachusetts Lighthouse (1791 to 1820).  The Lighthouse was ceded to Maine on Mar 15, 1820.

      The Port of Portland is another harbor with a deep-water entrance suitable for the safe anchorage of deep draft vessels.  The mast trade developed in Falmouth (later named Portland in 1786) using huge pines harvested from New Hampshire in 1727.  In 1750, Mast vessels were built in the first shipyard for commerce with England and the West India trade.

      After the British warships bombed and burned Falmouth (Portland) on October 18, 1775, Portland Head became a defensive sentry when a guard of eight soldiers were posted to warn citizens of British attacks in 1776.

      After the city and sea trade was destroyed during the Revolution, the rebuilding of Portland seaport began in 1784 and Falmouth Neck became incorporated as the city of Portland in 1786.  The Seaport of Portland rapidly grew from 1787 to 1807 due to the profitable trading of Maine lumber for Caribbean molasses.

      By 1787, Portland was a busy seaport and 74 local merchants petitioned the Massachusetts government for a Lighthouse to mark the entrance to Portland Harbor. ÝAfter the shipwreck at Cushing Island (formerly Bangs Island) near Portland Head in 1787, John Hancock, the first governor of the commonwealth, authorized construction and $750 was appropriated for a 58-foot high rubblestone Lighthouse tower.

      Construction began in 1787 and was delayed by insufficient funds until 1790 when the first U.S. Congress appropriated an additional $1,500 to complete the Lighthouse.  General Benjamin Lincoln, Superintendent of Lighthouses, supervised local masons, Jonathan Bryant and John Nichols to complete the masonry work of the rubblestone Tower which needed to be raised from 58-feet to 72-feet in order to eliminate a southern obstruction of the Light.

      The Lighthouse construction was completed in late 1790 with a tower measuring 72-feet the base to the Lantern deck.  On January 7, 1791, Captain Joseph Greenleaf, Revolutionary War veteran, was appointed the First Light-Keeper by President George Washington and Greenleaf’s salary was the right to live in the Keeper’s house, farm the property, and fish below the Lighthouse until 1793 when he received an annual salary of $160 from the government.

      Portland Head Light was First Lit on January 10, 1791 exhibiting a Fixed White light illuminated by 16 whale oil lamps 93-feet above sea level.
The First Lighthouse built by the U.S Federal Government after the Commonwealth of Massachusetts began construction.

      By 1806, Portland, heavily dependent upon sea trade exporting lumber and fish for molasses, ranked as the sixth-largest port in the Nation.  Two years later, Portland became devastated by Jefferson’s Embargo of 1807 and later by the War of 1812.  During the war, the USS Enterprise, commanded by Lieutenant William Burrows, was assigned to Portland “for the protection of the coast.”  On September 5, 1813, the 14 gun USS Enterprise defeated the 12 gun HMBS Boxer, commanded by Captain Blyth, off the coast of Portland, Maine in a heroic naval battle that resulted in the death of both commanders and the surrender of the Boxer’s crew to U.S. forces.

      In 1810, the deteriorating and rotting woodwork of Portland Head Lighthouse and Keeper’s house was repaired and a oil shed was built. A new Lantern Room with Lewis Lamps and Reflectors were installed in 1813 and a new Keeper’s house was built in 1816.

      In 1850, new Lewis Lamps and Reflectors were installed yet one year later, the new reflectors were severely scratched reducing the range of the Light, the Rubblestone Tower was cracking and the house was leaking.  In 1855, the Light was refitted by a Fourth-order Fresnel Lens and the tower was lined with brick.  A Fog bell tower was built and a 1,500 pound Fog bell was installed.

      On February 22, 1864, the Passenger Steamer Bohemian Struck Alden’s Rock off Maxwell’s Point (Cape Elizabeth) near Portland Head Light and sank.  Forty immigrants drowned in the shipwreck.  After the shipwreck of the Bohemian and public outcry, Portland Head Light was improved by raising the Tower 20 feet and installing Second-order Fresnel lens in 1865.

      From 1872 to 1898, 90 acres was purchased and Fort Williams was developed that included Portland Head Light as the major Harbor Defense of Portland.  On April 13, 1899, the fortification was designated Fort Williams to honor Brevet Major-General Seth Williams, Assistant Adjutant-General, United States Army.

      Portland Head Light was the Harbor’s main Guardian until 1883 when the Tower height was reduced by 20 feet and a Fourth-order Fresnel Lens replaced the Second-order Fresnel Lens.  The Lighthouse Board determined that Halfway Rock Light completed in 1871 was a more important navigational aid to the seaport.  After many complaints, the Tower’s height was restored a year later and a Second-order Fresnel Lens was reinstalled and First lit on January 15, 1885.

      On December 24, 1886, the 3-Masted British Bark Annie C. Maguire ran aground on the rocks 100 yards off Portland Head Lighthouse. The shipwreck is a maritime mystery since the crew reported they “plainly saw Portland Light before the disaster and are unable to account for same.”



Light-Keeper Joshua F. Strout and his family rescued all 14 freezing wet people to safety and the survivors became unexpected Christmas guests.  Another storm on January 1, 1887 destroyed the ship.

      In 1929, Portland Head Light was converted to Electric power.  During World War II, Fort Williams served as the headquarters of the Portland Harbor Defenses and Portland Head Light was darkened for 3-years in a blackout of the Atlantic coast due to the presence of enemy submarines.  In 1958, the Lighthouse was refitted with aerobeacons.

      On June 30, 1963, Fort Williams was deactivated and closed.  The Town of Cape Elizabeth acquired Fort Williams on December 1, 1964 and the old fort was developed into a beautiful oceanfront park.  The U.S. Coast Guard continued to own and maintain Portland Head Light.

      On August 7, 1989, Portland Head Light was Automated and Coast Guard keepers removed during a Decommissioning ceremony that also commemorated the 200th anniversary of the creation of the Lighthouse Service.  In 1990, The property was leased to the Town of Cape Elizabeth and the Lighthouse and property was deeded to the Town thanks to the efforts of United States Senator George Mitchell in 1993.  The United States Coast Guard continues to maintain the actual Light and the fog signal.

      In 1992, the Keeper’s House became the Museum at Portland Head Light and the garage was converted into a gift shop.  The Museum contains interpretative displays and the 1865 Second-order Fresnel lens is also on display.

      After 12 years of ownership, the Town of Cape Elizabeth will renovate Maine’s quintessential landmark, Portland Head Light, this spring by cleaning, sealing cracks, and painting the structure.  The Portland Head Light Fund will be used for the estimated $250,000 renovation project and the renovation work is scheduled to be completed for the Memorial Day weekend.

(2) 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, Turn Right onto Cottage Road,
Cottage Road becomes Shore Road at the Cape Elizabeth town line,
Turn Left into Fort Williams Park at 1000 Shore Road and continue to the Free Parking Area at Portland Head Lighthouse.



(3) Lighted throughout 24 hours. Emergency light of reduced intensity when main light is extinguished.

Characteristic: Height of focal plane:    F W (R+G sector) [Fixed White with Red and Green Sector] Red from 271.3° to 274.3°, White from 274.3° to 275.8°, Green from 275.8° to 279.3° 23 feet;   Range: W-15, R-11, G-11 nautical miles

(4) In the late 1840’s, Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow sat on the rocks near Portland Head Light to write and the poem, “The Lighthouse” may have been inspired by his frequent visits.

Notable Sentinel Navigation
Back to Previous Light: White Island Light
Forward to Next Light: Cape Henry Light

or Regional Navigation