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Loading ...Portland Head Lighthouse construction began in 1787 by order of George Washington. It was completed on January 10, 1791. Whale oil lamps were originally used for illumination. In 1855 a fourth-order Fresnel lens was installed; that was replaced by a second-order Fresnel lens in 1864. That lens was replaced with an aerobeacon in 1958.
While Maine was still part of the colony of Massachusetts, George Washington employed two masons from the town of Portland in 1787 and instructed them to take charge of the construction of a lighthouse on Portland Head. The masons names were Jonathan Bryant and John Nichols. George Washington reminded them that the colonial government was poor and that the materials used to build the lighthouse should be taken from the fields and shores. Washington said they could be handled nicely when hauled by oxen on a drag.
Washington gave the masons 4 years to build the tower. While it was under construction, the federal government was formed in 1789 and it looked for a while as though the lighthouse would not be finished. But the first congress made an appropriation and authorized Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, to set up a Lighthouse Establishment, and they appropriated $1,500 to complete the construction of the Portland Head lighthouse. Hamilton then informed the masons that they could go on with the completion of the tower. The tower was completed during the year 1790 and first lit on January 10, 1791.
The old tower, built of rubble stone, still stands as one of the four colonial lighthouses that have never been rebuilt.
During the Civil War, raids on shipping in and out of Portland Harbor became common place, and because of the necessity for ships at sea to sight Portland Head Light as soon as possible, the tower was raised 8 feet. Today Portland Head Light stands 80 feet above ground and 101 feet above water, its white conical tower being connected with a dwelling. The 200,000 candlepower, second-order electric light, is visible for 16 miles.
The Portland Head lighthouse is within the grounds of Fort Williams State Park. On the grounds of the park are the keeper’s house and an oil house that were constructed in 1891, a fog signal building that was built in 1975, and a garage that has been converted to a gift shop. There is a museum in the keeper’s house.
Ram Island Ledge Lighthouse lies just offshore from the Portland Head Lighthouse and can be seen in the photo of the USCG Cutter below.
These photos were taken on the morning of September 30th, 2006. The sun was just beginning to rise and the air was cold for the end of September. The sunrise was unforgettable! We also visited the Portland Breakwater Lighthouse and a photo of it is included below. Click on a thumbnail for a larger view.
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