Portland Head Light, Historic lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth, United States
Portland Head Light is a stone lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, rising 24 meters (80 feet) above the coastline. The white cylindrical tower carries a black lantern room and stands on a rocky ledge at the entrance to Portland Harbor.
Construction began in 1787 under directive from George Washington and finished in 1791, making it the oldest lighthouse in Maine. The tower was raised by six meters in 1865 to improve visibility for vessels entering the harbor.
The name comes from Portland Harbor, which the structure has watched over for more than two centuries. The former keeper's quarters at the base now serve as a museum displaying maritime artifacts and navigation tools.
Fort Williams Park offers daily access to the grounds from sunrise to sunset, while the tower itself remains closed to the public. The park includes paths along the coastline that provide good views of both the structure and the cliffs.
The beacon uses a DCB-224 airport light visible for 24 nautical miles, flashing every four seconds to mark the entrance. This aviation technology was adapted for maritime use rather than developed specifically for lighthouses.
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Lighthouses tell the history of sailing with their shapes and building styles. Some go back to Roman times, like the Tower of Hercules in Galicia, a structure from the second century still working today. Others are from the Middle Ages, such as the Hook Lighthouse in Ireland, with its...
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