Spring Point Ledge Light

Spring Point Ledge Light is a cylindrical cast-iron tower located at the end of a granite breakwater in South Portland, equipped with a Fresnel lens and a black lantern room. The structure displays characteristics of caisson-style construction, specifically designed to withstand exposure to ocean waves.

This beacon was built in 1897 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers to protect ships from dangerous underwater ledges at Portland Harbor's entrance. The lighthouse design was part of coastal safety modernization efforts during that era.

The light represents Portland's maritime identity and connection to its harbor, visible from the shore as a symbol of navigation and seafaring life. Visitors come to experience how this structure once guided vessels and continues to tell the story of local maritime traditions.

You can reach this structure by walking along a granite breakwater extending from the Southern Maine Community College grounds, a roughly 900-foot walk. The path is open to the public but offers no shelter or facilities, so plan for exposure to coastal weather conditions.

This is Maine's only caisson-style lighthouse where the original lower gallery and canopy remain accessible to the public. The rare design demonstrates how lighthouses built this way resisted water pressure at dangerous, exposed locations.

Location: Cumberland County

Inception: 1897

Architects: United States Army Corps of Engineers

GPS coordinates: 43.65212,-70.22390

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:04