Portland Head Light facts for kids

The Portland Head Light is a famous old lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. It stands on a piece of land that sticks out into the ocean. This spot is at the main entrance to Portland Harbor. The harbor is part of Casco Bay, which is in the larger Gulf of Maine.

This lighthouse was finished in 1791. This makes it the oldest lighthouse in all of Maine. Today, machines run the lighthouse. The United States Coast Guard takes care of the tower, its light, and the foghorn. The old house where the lighthouse keepers lived is now a museum. It is located inside Fort Williams Park.

History of the Lighthouse

Building the Portland Head Light began in 1787. George Washington, who would later become the first U.S. President, ordered it to be built. It was finished on January 10, 1791. He set aside $1,500 to pay for it.

At first, the lighthouse used lamps that burned Whale oil to create light. In 1855, a special new lens called a Fresnel lens was put in. This lens made the light much stronger. Later, in 1958, a different type of light called an aerobeacon was installed. The current light, a DCB-224 aerobeacon, was put in in 1991 and is still used today.

Original Fresnel lens

In 1787, Maine was still part of the state of Massachusetts. George Washington hired two builders, Jonathan Bryant and John Nichols. They were from the town of Falmouth, which is now Portland. Washington told them to build the lighthouse. He also reminded them that the new government didn't have much money. So, he said they should use materials found nearby. They could use stones from the fields and shores. Oxen could help move these heavy materials.

The first plans said the tower should be 58 feet tall. But when the builders finished this height, they climbed to the top. They realized ships wouldn't be able to see the light from far away. So, they decided to make it 20 feet taller.

The tower was built using rough stones. Washington gave the builders four years to finish it. In 1789, while it was still being built, the United States government was just starting. For a short time, it seemed the lighthouse might not be finished. But the first U.S. Congress passed a law to provide money. They told the builders they could keep working. On August 10, 1790, Congress approved up to $1500 more. They said the President should make sure the lighthouse was completed. The tower was finished in 1790 and first lit on January 10, 1791.

During the American Civil War, ships going in and out of Portland Harbor were often attacked. It became very important for ships to see Portland Head Light as soon as possible. Because of this, the tower was made 20 feet taller again. The house where the lighthouse keepers lived was built in 1891.

Later, when the Halfway Rock Light was built, people thought Portland Head Light was less important. In 1883, the tower was made 20 feet shorter. A weaker lens was also put in. But sailors complained that they couldn't see it as well. So, in 1885, the lighthouse was made taller again. The stronger lens was also put back.

The lighthouse station has not changed much since then. The building for the foghorn had to be rebuilt in 1975. A big storm had damaged it badly. Today, Portland Head Light stands 80 feet above the ground. Its light is 101 feet above the water. The tower is white and shaped like a cone. It is connected to the old keeper's house.

The town of Cape Elizabeth owns the lighthouse grounds and the keeper's house. The U.S. Coast Guard owns and takes care of the light and fog signal. They use it to help ships navigate today. The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 24, 1973. It was also named a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 2002. This was done by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Gallery

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  1917

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  1933

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  2009

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  2021

See also

• Annie C. Maguire shipwreck
• Port of Portland, ME
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Cumberland County, Maine