Portland Head Light
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Why go
- The white tower rises 80 feet above ground beside a two-story wooden keeper’s house.
- Part of the second-order Fresnel lens once used in the tower is displayed in the maritime museum.
- Maine’s oldest lighthouse stands at the entrance to Portland Harbor’s shipping channel.
Opening hours
Today10:00 – 16:00Show all
What you see
- The lighthouse stands beside Fort Williams, a former World War II artillery emplacement.
- Five nearby lighthouses can be seen from the park.
Know before you go
- The tower is normally closed to visitors, with a public opening once a year.
Interesting facts4
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24 nautical
The main light is visible from 24 nautical miles away.
Phare de Portland Head - Wikipedia -
0.4 seconds
Its white flash lasts 0.4 seconds and repeats every four seconds, day and night.
Phare de Portland Head - Wikipedia -
The U.S. Coast Guard maintains the beacon and fog signal as navigation aids.
Portland Head Light - Wikipedia -
1998
Since 1998, the lighthouse has marked the finish of the Beach to Beacon 10K road race.
Portland Head Light - Wikipedia
Shorts
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Travels: Portland Head Light @ Cape Elizabeth, MELoganswaytv
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The Portland Head Light and Fort Williams Park, Cape Elizabeth, MaineReed's Adventures
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Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth, Maine 4K Drone Footage and PhotosAbove And Below Productions
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Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth, MaineLiving in Portland Maine
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Portland Head Light - Cape Elizabeth, ME 7/7/2026Broward County Legend
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On The Road- Portland Head Lightgregmorningbuzz
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Portland Head Light Cape Elizabeth, Maine with the WifeHeyImDanIzzo
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Your guide to visiting the most photographed lighthouse in the world!…Meko Valentino
History
In 1776, Cape Elizabeth stationed eight soldiers at Portland Head to warn residents of British attacks. Massachusetts later provided $750 toward construction of the lighthouse; Congress allocated another $1,500 to complete it.
- 1787Construction began on George Washington’s orders. Jonathan Bryant and John Nichols, masons from Falmouth, oversaw the work.
- January 10, 1791The lighthouse was first lit with whale-oil lamps.
- 1855A fourth-order Fresnel lens was installed.
- 1883–1885Previously raised by 20 feet and fitted with a second-order Fresnel lens, the tower was shortened in 1883, then restored to its former height in 1885 after mariners complained.
- 1886The Annie C. Maguire struck the ledge on Christmas Eve; Keeper Joshua Strout and others helped its crew reach safety.
Show all
- 1891The present Keepers’ Quarters was built as a duplex for the head and assistant keepers’ families.
- August 1989The lighthouse became automated.
- 1993The town acquired the property.
How to get there
- CarPortland Head Light is at 1000 Shore Road, within Fort Williams Park, Cape Elizabeth.
Sources: Portland Head Light - Wikipedia · Cape Elizabeth - Wikivoyage (see) · Home - Portland Head Light and Fort Williams Pa… · About Us - Portland Head Light and Fort William… · Museum & Gift Shop - Portland Head Light and Fo… · Portland Head Light - Wikipedia · Phare de Portland Head - Wikipedia · checked 28 Sep 2026
- Website
- portlandheadlight.com/
- Phone
- 12077992661
Questions and answers
What history does the museum at Portland Head Light cover?
Its timeline explores the keepers’ lives, changes in lighthouse technology over two centuries and military activity at Fort Williams.
Who lived in the Keepers’ Quarters at Portland Head Light?
The head and assistant keepers and their families lived there until 1989.
Has Portland Head Light appeared in a film?
A snowy view appears in the 1999 drama Snow Falling on Cedars.
What powered Portland Head Light’s original beam?
Sixteen whale-oil lamps.
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