Portland Head Light
Portland Head Light is the oldest lighthouse in the US state of Maine .
Construction of the structure south of the port city of Portland began as early as 1787, but was canceled after a short time due to insufficient funding. The First Congress of the United States of America gave $ 1,500 to complete the lighthouse in 1789. After completion in 1790, George Washington designated Captain Joseph Greenleaf as the first lighthouse keeper.
The originally 72 ft. (Approx. 20 m) high, fieldstone tower was shortened by about a third in 1813.
After the sinking of the ocean liner Bohemian in 1864 on the coast of Cape Elizabeth with 20 deaths, a general overhaul followed, and after 70 years another demolition. The protest of residents led to the fact that this second demolition was reversed; this time the reconstruction was carried out using brick blocks .
Today the tower is 80 ft. (23 m) high and emits white light at 101 ft. (28 m) above sea level.
The city of Cape Elizabeth operates a museum in the lighthouse keeper's house, which was built in 1891. From mid-April to mid-December, it shows exhibits on the history of the lighthouse. On April 24, 1973, the lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a monument . In 2002, the American Society of Civil Engineers added it to the List of Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks .
Portland Head Light is surrounded by Fort Williams Park . Since 1998, it has been the destination of Beach to Beacon 10K , a road run that starts at Crescent Beach State Park .
Web links
- Website of the Portland Head Lighthouse (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Entry in the National Register Information System . National Park Service , accessed June 13, 2016
Coordinates: 43 ° 37 ′ 23 " N , 70 ° 12 ′ 28" W.