Guiding lights

WRITTEN BY WANDA GURTIS

As you navigate through all of the exciting places to visit in greater Portland, consider a trip to one of the many historic lighthouses in the area. Maine lighthouses have guided ships through our rocky, rugged coastline for centuries. There are more than 60 lighthouses in Maine, and 57 are still active. Some lighthouses can be visited individually or by signing up for a tour, while others can only be viewed and photographed from a distance. Here’s a guide to just a few of greater Portland’s most iconic and photogenic lighthouses.

Portland Head Light

Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth is the oldest and most well-known Maine lighthouse. It was built in 1790 during George Washington’s presidency. A second-order Fresnel lens was lit for the first time on Jan. 10, 1791. And the lighthouse is still active today. 

The now automated light beams extend 24 miles, shining over the Casco Bay area. Portland Head Light can be viewed up close from the 90-acre Fort Williams Park adjoining the lighthouse. The park is open from sunrise until sunset. The lighthouse tower is open to the public only once a year on Maine Open Lighthouse Day, which this year is Sept. 13. Approximately 300 tickets will be made available to climb the tower on that day. Visitors to the tower must be able to climb 85-plus steps unassisted. The lighthouse keeper’s quarters, which were converted into a museum and a gift shop, are open to all. The museum contains lighthouse lenses and historic displays. In addition, there are picnic and recreation areas within the park. 

Portland Head Light also offers views of four more lighthouse towers in the area. To the north you can see Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse; straight out ahead in the bay is Ram Island Ledge Light; further out on a clear day you can spot Halfway Rock Light Station; and to the south is Cape Elizabeth Light.

Ram Island Ledge Light

Ram Island Ledge Light is another active lighthouse located within a short distance of Portland. Just across the bay from Portland Head Light, it’s the most remote of all the lighthouses near Portland. It can only be viewed from a distance on land; to get closer you’ll need a boat. Ram Island itself is only a quarter mile long, surrounded by “treacherous and often submerged rocks that line the northern side of the harbor,” according to Jim Hudspith’s “A Complete Guide to Island Ledge Light” article on mainelighthousemuseum.com. According to the article, the 400-foot ship California became grounded on ledge in 1900, which prompted Congress to consider taking action. However, it wasn’t until after a British schooner ran aground on a reef in 1902 and two fishing vessels met a similar fate, that any work began. A light was finally unveiled in April 1905.

Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse (aka Two Lights)

Located at the south entrance of Portland Harbor, Cape Elizabeth Light was first constructed in 1828 as a pair of lighthouses, giving it the moniker Two Lights. Those towers were replaced with two cast-iron towers in 1874. The western tower was discontinued in 1924, and today it is privately owned. The eastern tower remains in service and is now automated, however neither the tower nor the grounds are open to the public. The area is now home to Two Lights State Park, where visitors can enjoy views of the ocean, picnic tables, shoreline trails, and spot the lighthouse from the end of Two Lights Road.

Spring Point Ledge 

Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse is located on the breakwater at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland. It was built in 1897 to light the way for mariners traveling in Portland Harbor and warn them of a dangerous ledge, which was the site of several collisions before the lighthouse was built. Unlike most Maine lighthouses, Spring Point Ledge Light is open for the public to tour inside from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and every other Saturday during the summer. There is an admission fee. For more information, email [email protected].

Portland Breakwater Light (aka Bug Light)

The Bug Light Park Lighthouse is a small but active lighthouse, sitting on top of the Portland Breakwater in Bug Light Park in South Portland. It’s the eastern end of the Greenbelt Walkway, and located across the bay from downtown Portland. Built in 1875, the lighthouse helped vessels navigate Portland Harbor. The Greek Revival design of the 26-foot-tall tower sets it apart from other lighthouses, in addition to its small size. 

Visitors can walk up to the lighthouse, but can only view the inside on Maine Open Lighthouse Day. The lighthouse will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 13, 2025. 

For more information about Maine Open Lighthouse Day, visit lighthousefoundation.org. You’ll find a list of participating lighthouses around the state, along with hours and details.