The most photographed and
painted lighthouse in Maine.
Portland Head Light marks
the state's busiest harbor.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
was inspired with the
beauty of the lighthouse.
Maine was part of the
Massachusettes Bay Colony,
in the 18th century, (Portland
known as Falmouth till 1786)
was one of the busiest ports
in America by the late 1700s.
In 1784, the merchants petitioned
the Massachusetts government
for a light to mark the entrance.
Governor John Hancock of the
Bay Colony,authorized the construction.
Construction didn't begin until 1790
due to insufficient funds.
The original plans were for a
58 foot tower to be built but that
was revised and a
72 foot tower was built.
Captain Joseph Greenleaf was
appointed by
President George Washington
as the first keeper.
In 1810, repairs were made and
an outdoor oil shed added.
A new lantern and a system
of lamps and reflectors,designed
by Winslow Lewis were installed
and a new keeper's house
was built in 1816.
A bell tower was added in 1855 and
a fourth order Fresnel lens
replaced the lamps and reflectors.
Automated in August,1989, and
the keeper's quarters renovated in
1990 to create a museum and
dedicated in 1992 ,
and operated by the
Town Of Cape Elizabeth.
