Portland Head Lighthouse

An 87-foot Coast Guard patrol boat patrols near the Portland Head Lighthouse.

Construction began in 1787 at the directive of George Washington, and was completed on January 10, 1791. Whale oil lamps were originally used for illumination. In 1855 a fourth-order Fresnel lens was installed; that was replaced by a second-order Fresnel lens in 1864. That lens was replaced with an DCB-224 aerobeacon in 1958. 

Today, Portland Head Light stands 80 feet above ground and 101 feet above water, its white conical tower being connected with a dwelling. The 200,000 candlepower, DCB 224 airport style aerobeacon is visible from 24 miles away. The grounds, and keeper's house are owned by the town of Cape Elizabeth, while the beacon, tower and fog signal are owned and maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard as a current aid to navigation.

City: Cape Elizabeth
State: Maine
Photographer:  PA1 Tom Sperduto USCG
Date: August 13, 2003