Portland Head Light stands on the rocky shore of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, at the entrance to Casco Bay near Portland. First lit on January 10, 1791, it is the oldest lighthouse in Maine and one of the most photographed light stations in the United States. The white tower and keeper's house sit within Fort Williams Park, a free municipal park with open lawns, walking paths, and sweeping ocean views along the southern Maine coast.
At a glance
The facts worth checking before you roll out
Conservative, source-minded facts for planning your visit — always worth confirming against current conditions before you travel.
Location
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
First lit
January 10, 1791
Setting
Fort Williams Park (municipal park)
Active light
Maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard
On the ground
Set on the headland at the mouth of Casco Bay, Portland Head Light has guided mariners since the earliest days of the republic, and its tower above the surf-washed ledges has become an enduring image of the Maine coast.
Today the surrounding Fort Williams Park offers open grounds, shoreline paths, and ocean overlooks, while the 1891 keeper's quarters houses a maritime museum — making the station an easy, scenic anchor for a southern Maine coastal trip.
Cape Elizabeth sits just minutes from Portland, so the light pairs naturally with the bays, beaches, and harbor towns that line this stretch of shore.
Official sources
- Portland Head Light & Fort Williams Park — Official Site Government source
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Planning an RV trip near Portland Head Light: A Maine RV Traveler's Guide?
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