Portland Head Lighthouse, located on Cape Elizabeth just southeast of Portland, Maine, is one of the most picturesque lighthouses anywhere. The original tower (measuring nearly eighty feet) was first utilized in 1791, lit by sixteen whale oil lamps; an additional twenty feet were added during the Civil War for increased visibility. In 1883, when another lighthouse nearby was deemed more important than Portland Head, the tower was reduced to its original size of eighty feet, the same height it is now. Over thirty keepers manned the facility until 1989 when it was decommissioned due to automation. Like all working lighthouses in America, this one is maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard. Today, Portland Head Lighthouse, its museum, and other attending structures are affiliated with Fort Williams Park, a ninety acre playground that offers picnic facilities, large areas for sporting activities, and hiking along the Atlantic Ocean. And, if you are lucky, a local food truck might be there to offer up one of the most delicious lobster rolls you will ever put in your mouth!
