Portland Head

Located in Fort Williams Park near South Portland, ME (1791).

The lighthouse at Portland (Maine) Head is the first lighthouse built by the federal government. The US Lighthouse Establishment of 1789 was the first public works act passed by Congress. President George Washington managed to squeeze $1500 from the cash strapped government to complete construction of this lighthouse that had been started by the State of Massachusetts. Construction was completed and the Portland Head Light became operational in 1791. Prior to this time lighthouses were built and owned by the individual states and territories. The light station was added to the National Register of Historic Places on 4/24/73.

With its 80 foot fieldstone tower, Portland Head Light attracts thousands of visitors every year to this attractive, scenic and photogenic lighthouse and museum. Automated in 1989, this is still an active lighthouse.

Location: At the entrance of a primary shipping channel in Portland Harbor, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Type: conical tower made of fieldstone