PORTLAND HEAD LIGHT

The creation of this lighthouse followed a terrible accident in 1787. Growing concern among merchant ship captains about the presence of dangerous rocks at the entrance to the harbour finally convinced the authorities to erect it. It was the first President of the United States, George Washington, who ordered its construction. It's one of the oldest in the region (1791) and a symbol of Maine. The original tower was 22 metres high, lit by 16 whale oil lamps. In 1864, the first Fresnel lens was installed. Among the most famous representations of the lighthouse is Edward Hopper's painting Portland Head-Line(1927). The lighthouse tower is only open to the public one day a year, on Maine Open Lighthouse Day, usually in September. This annual event, sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard, the Maine Office of Tourism and the American Lighthouse Foundation, attracts between 15,000 and 18,000 visitors each year. A dozen of Maine's historic lighthouses are involved in this exceptional opening day (see website for details). With no fewer than 65 historic lighthouses spread over 8,000 km of coastline and islands, Maine is literally the "Lighthouse State".
The small adjoining museum and Fort Williams Park remain open year-round. On more than 30 landscaped hectares, you can stroll, picnic and gaze out over the endless ocean.