Ram Island Ledge Light, Granite lighthouse at entrance of Casco Bay, Portland, United States
Ram Island Ledge Light is a cylindrical granite lighthouse at the entrance to Casco Bay, topped with a black lantern room. The structure rises about 22 meters (72 feet) above the rocky island and is constructed from carefully fitted granite blocks.
Construction of the lighthouse began in 1903 following the wreck of the steamship State of California, which prompted Congress to fund the project. The effort demonstrated the need for improved navigation markers in this hazardous shipping zone.
The lighthouse embodies Maine's maritime tradition and served for generations as a vital reference point for fishing vessels and merchant ships navigating the bay. Local communities recognize it as a symbol of the maritime safety that shaped the region.
The lighthouse remains closed to the public and can only be reached by boat. Visitors can best observe it from Portland Head Light or by joining kayak tours that pass by the rocks.
This lighthouse shares its distinctive granite design with Graves Light Station near Boston, both constructed during the same building period. Their similar appearance reflects the standardized engineering approach of that era.
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