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Portland Head Light, completed in 1791 at the entrance to Portland Harbor in Cape Elizabeth, is Maine’s oldest lighthouse and is often regarded as the first built by the United States government. Begun after local leaders sought funding in 1785, it was constructed under George Washington’s direction and altered repeatedly as navigational needs changed, including changes in height and lens strength during the 19th century. Still active today, it has guided ships through Casco Bay, witnessed wrecks such as the Annie C. Maguire in 1886, and become a major symbol of the Maine coast, with national historic designations and a museum in the former keeper’s house.
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Cape Elizabeth, Maine · United States
