Maine's Southern Coast: Lighthouses, Part 1

Two great things about traveling to see a lighthouse: you're pretty much guaranteed a great view and an interesting bit of history.  The lighthouses we found along Maine's southern coast did not disappoint.  Today's photos are from our visit to Portland on a rainy Monday when conditions were just perfect to experience the drama and majesty of the coast around the Portland Head Light and the Ram Island Ledge Light.

Our first glimpse of the Portland Head Light, Maine's oldest lighthouse (c. 1791). It is located
in the Cape Elizabeth section of Portland in Fort Williams Park.

The keeper's cottage is now a museum, the small building on the left a gift shop.

The museum housed several of the old lights that were once
used in the lighthouse.

A British ship, the Annie McGuire, wrecked on these rocks in front of the Portland Light on
Christmas Eve 1886.  The keeper and his family helped get all the passengers safely
to shore.

The original 1791 lighthouse is still in use and stands 80 feet tall.  Visitors are not
allowed inside the actual lighthouse.

The views are magnificent even on a stormy day.

Ram Island Ledge Light is located about a mile offshore in front of the Portland
Head Light.  Completed in 1905, it is 90 feet tall.