Lighthouse Guides

Portland Breakwater Light, which is situated not far from South Portland’s shore, serves as a guide for ships in Casco Bay. The present lighthouse was constructed in 1875, replacing the old one that was opened in 1855 as part of the extensive...

Spring Point Ledge Light was approved by Congress in 1895 after many years of requests from shipping companies eager to avoid passenger boat disasters in and around the perilous Spring Point Ledge. This unassuming tower sits on the west side of...

Towering over a rocky outcrop in Portland’s Harbor, Ram Island Ledge Light appears to soar straight out from under the sea at high tide. It was built in 1905 as a no-frills conical granite tower with an accompanying skeleton pier. History of...

Portland Head Light, one of only four lighthouses still standing from George Washington’s presidency, marks Portland Harbor on Casco Bay. The 1790-built tower is situated near Portland Head in Cape Elizabeth. It offers beautiful views —...

In 1874, two cast iron lighthouses sprung up on Cape Elizabeth’s beach to serve maritime traffic in a busy coastal lane south of Portland. History of Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse The rocky stretch served by Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse is one of the...

The two-story, gambrel-roofed keeper’s house at the Wood Island Light Station is linked by a long, narrow hallway to an impressive, granite lighthouse tower. An adjacent stone-built oil house is also still standing. History of Wood Island...

The Goat Island Light Station is made up of a boathouse, a brick oil house, a converted keeper’s residence, and a separate cylindrical brick tower. Previously, a large covered walkway linked the house to the tower. Today, Goat Island is a...

The Cape Neddick Light Station is sometimes referred to as “The Nubble” by locals, and “Nubble Lighthouse” more broadly. It is situated on a tall, mainly naked rock outcrop off York Beach that is linked to the mainland by a...

The Boon Island Light Tower is the highest of its kind along the coast of Maine, standing at 133 feet. Situated between the remains of the old keeper’s house and a contemporary generator shed, the attractive granite tower rises sharply and...

A cylindrical granite tower and a sturdy brick signal house make up the Whaleback Light Station, which rises out of a small rock outcropping about sixty feet above mean high tide. History of Whaleback Lightouse This impressively well-preserved...