Lighthouses of Maine, Day 2

Up early again today to seek out more lighthouses!  First stop was the Portland Head Lighthouse.    This lighthouse was the first completed by the United States Government and is the most visited, painted and photographed in New England.  One keeper took financial advantages of the areas draw, another enjoyed visits from a famous poet, while yet another thought it was the most desirable place he could serve.  Some believe that at least one former resident has never left.  The light was built in 1791.  It was ordered to be built by President George Washington and was dedicated by Marquis de' Lafayette. 

Portland Head Lighthouse, Maine

 

 

From the site of the Portland Head Lighthouse, one can view the Ram Island Ledge Lighthouse. It marks a 1/4 mile long rock on the opposite side of the channel from Portland Head.  This light was built in 1905. It is currently in private hands.

 

Ram Island Ledge Lighthouse

 

Our third lighthouse of the day was the Spring Point Ledge Light.  This was located at the site of Fort Preble.  This light became operational in 1897.  In 1998 it was transferred to a public trust.

 

Spring Ledge Light

 

 

Another scene from the lighthouse.......too nice not to share.....

 

 

Our fourth lighthouse of the day was Half Way Rock.  This lighthouse was viewed at a great distance from the Spring Point Ledge Light.  It is so named because it is half-way between Cape Elizabeth and Cape Small in Casco Bay.  It is best seen by boat, however, with Jim's super-duper camera lens, we were able to get a shot.  This lighthouse was lit for the first time in 1871.  In May of 2012, it was made available under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act to eligible agencies. No qualified custodian was found so it was put up for auction in May of this year. 

 

 

Half Way Rock 





 

 



After Half-Way Rock, we visited the Portland Head Breakwater Light.  This light marks the end of a breakwater at the entrance to Portland Harbor.  This light is affectionately called the "Bug Light. The breakwater is 1800 feet long and is designed to keep waves from entering the harbor. 

 

 

The "Bug Light"



 

 

 

 

Our next stop was the Doubling Point Lighthouse.  This was one of five lights on the Kennebec River.  It is located in rustic, back roads area which required some creative navigation on our part.  This is all part of the challenge of the "hunt".  It is a quaint lighthouse with a keepers house on the property.  This lighthouse was built in 1898 and is still active to this day, showing a flashing white light every four seconds. 

 

Doubling Point Lighthouse





 

Squirrel Point Lighthouse was our next lighthouse.  This was truly a challenge as we had to park the car and walk over three quarters of a mile (one way) to reach it.  This was no easy task considering it was through the woods and up and down hills following a narrow foot path to the rivers edge! Jim has difficulty walking for a long distance and it was definitely a show of strength and sheer will power for him to make the trek.  This lighthouse is another one of the five that was built on the Kennebec River.  These lighthouses guide ships up the river to Bath, Maine.  The lighthouse was finished in 1898 and continues to serve as a navigational aid today. 

 

Squirrel Point Lighthouse

 

 

Our final lighthouse of the day was seen from the Squirrel Point Lighthouse.  It was Bald Head Light.  None of our reference books show anything about this light, but talking to a local resident, we were assured that there is a light at the location. (Thank you Ralph!) This picture is taken from a distance as we were not up to walking the trail to Bald Head Light.....no kidding!

 

 

Bald Head Light

 

 

It was a beautiful day to seek out the lighthouses, lots of sun and the warmest day we have experienced in Maine thus far.  We stopped in Wells, Maine on our way back to the RV Park, and had LOBSTER at Mike's Clam Shack.  It was scrumptious!  

 



(This guy did not have a chance.....)