Day 1 of October 2024 Trip to Acadia, Portland Lighthouses

Along my drive from Boston to Bangor, Maine, I made a stop in Portland and visited some famous lighthouses around the city.

Portland Head Light

It was the second weekend of October. Having recently explored the mountains of New Hampshire, I assumed the foliage there had already passed its peak. This led me to believe that Acadia National Park in Maine, with its coastal location and milder climate, would be at its peak for fall colors. The weather forecast looked okay for the weekend, so I decided it was the time to visit Acadia.

On the Friday before, I took off from work early and hit the road from the outskirts of Boston just after 2pm. It took me some time to navigate through the traffic that had already built up and make my way out of the city.
I figured driving for 4 hours straight to Bangor would be dull. Additionally, this was my first time visiting Maine, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to stop and explore a few of the famous lighthouses around Portland along the way.

Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse

This was located a short detour away on the way to Portland Head Light. On the map, one could find that it was built at a turn in shipping lanes to prevent the ships from cutting the corner and running aground. Nearby were ruins of Fort Preble (which is now Southern Maine Community College). Parking was limited near the lighthouse.

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Fort Gorges

Fort Scammell

Little Diamond Island

Distant Portland Head Light

Casco Bay

Distant Downtown Portland

I was a bit surprised to learn that the breakwater connecting the lighthouse to the mainland was built long after the lighthouse itself. Thanks to the breakwater, visitors nowadays could walk right up to the lighthouse. (When observed up close, I found the lighthouse to be rustier and filled with more spiderwebs than I had expected.)

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Breakwater Leading to Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse

Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse

Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse

Sailboat

Portland Head Light

Then it’s the star of the day, Portland Head Light.
This was the oldest and most photographed lighthouse in the State of Maine. Commissioned by George Washington and completed in 1791, it had played a crucial role in guiding ships into and out of Portland Harbor, standing as a symbol of the state’s maritime heritage.
I arrived at Fort Williams Park around 5pm, about an hour from sunset. It turned out to be a bit early, so I spent some time waiting in my car. As the sun dipped lower, the entire Portland Head Light gradually fell into the shade, while soft traces of pink enchantingly painted the distant horizon.

While the lighthouse was generally closed to the public, there was a small museum nearby (that closed at 4pm). As a result, I spent most of my time there appreciating the views.

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Portland Head Light

Portland Head Light

Portland Head Light

Portland Head Light

 
Lighthouse Tower

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Keeper House of Portland Head Light

Sunset Glow off Cape Elizabeth

Shipwreck Site of Portland Head Light

Ram Island Ledge Light
Marking the other end of navigable water.

NOAA Ship Nancy Foster
A former naval vessel converted for NOAA research.

Remains of Fort Williams: Battery Blair

A minor disappointment was that Fort Williams Park officially closed at sunset (instead of X minutes after that). So the staff were urging people to leave over loudspeakers just as the distant horizon was glowing with the most beautiful colors of the day.
After that, I made the uneventful drive to Bangor and checked into the overnight hotel just past 9pm, concluding the day.
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