Portland Head Light in 2012 | |
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Location | Portland Head off Shore Rd., Cape Elizabeth, Maine |
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Coordinates | 43°37′23″N 70°12′28″W / 43.62306°N 70.20778°W |
Tower | |
Constructed | 1791 |
Foundation | Natural emplaced |
Construction | Rubble stone with brick lining |
Automated | 1989 |
Height | 24.38 m (80.0 ft) ![]() |
Shape | Conical |
Markings | White with black trim |
Heritage | National Register of Historic Places listed place, Historic Civil Engineering Landmark ![]() |
Fog signal | HORN: 1 blast ev 15s[1][2][3] |
Light | |
First lit | 1791 |
Focal height | 101 feet (31 m) |
Lens | Fourth order Fresnel lens (original), DCB 224 airport aerobeacon (current) |
Range | 24 nautical miles (44 km; 28 mi) |
Characteristic | Flashing white 4s Lighted continuously |
Portland Head Light | |
Area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) |
Architect | Nichols, John; Bryant, Jonathan |
NRHP reference No. | 73000121[4] |
Added to NRHP | April 24, 1973 |
Portland Head Light is a historic lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. The light station sits on a headland at the entrance of the primary shipping channel into Portland Harbor, which is within Casco Bay in the Gulf of Maine. Completed in 1791, it is the oldest lighthouse in Maine. The light station is automated, and the tower, beacon, and foghorn are maintained by the United States Coast Guard, while the former lighthouse keeper's house is a maritime museum within Fort Williams Park.