Portland Head Lighthouse and Museum

Parking and seeing the exterior of the lighthouse is free! Take in the park, check out the old fort and buildings, and hike along the trails. Add this place to your trip itinerary or make an impromptu visit. Come here for a pinic lunch! If you didn’t pack anything, stop by Scratch Bakery in nearby SoPo and drive to the headlight to enjoy your tasty baked goods. If you are here in the summer, grab a lobster roll at the Bite Into Maine lobster truck. Please note: there are no toilets, just porta pottys.

Very nice park and museum. We enjoyed the walking path around the perimeter of the park taking in the fantastic views of the rocky shore along the way. On a personal note: I have never seen so many dandelion flowers. Besides the quantity, some were enormous compared to the ones I am familiar with in California.

Magnificent Lighthouse!
Breathtaking scenery.
Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
Nothing like watching the ocean waves crashing.
Picturesque view.
Cool, crisp breeze.
A lot of history here.

Absolutely breathtaking area. This is a must visit if you find yourself in the greater Portland area.
I’ve seen this lighthouse in many pictures and paintings over the years but to see it in person. Pictures do not do this place justice.
Easy parking and a short walk and you’ll be at one of our national treasures.

You may expect more beautiful lighthouses around Portland, but this one definitely stands out among the other smaller ones. Portland Head has an interesting history from being commissioned by Washington to being immortalized in Longfellow poems. This is what you picture as a lighthouse and it looks great from every angle. The cliff walk also in the park is very nice as well and gives dramatic views of the rocky coast with waves crashing.

Absloutly gorgeous and a must see when in Maine!!!
Favorite place I’ve visited in the Portland area so far. No words can describe how peaceful this place is. Yes, people come for the light house and it’s pretty, but the true site is simply sitting on a cliff overlooking the water and nearby islands.
Being comfortable walking shoes so you can climb down one of the many rocky hills and sit right by the water. Plan on spending at least two hours here.
Hungry? Check out the lobster shack or Bite into Maine food truck for delicious lobster with a view.

Pros: Easy to navigate, close parking, no fee for entrance, cool historical references, cliff walk trail — for light exercise, and the incredible view
Cons: rainy day (our bad luck), lots of tourists, porter potty bathrooms only located near parking lot, not as much historical information, and annoying couples doing photo shoot on the rocks below

This is a beautiful park. If I remember correctly, the lighthouse is the oldest in Maine.
It’s still in use. In 1989 it went automated but up until that time, people were still living in it. The museum is tiny but well worth the $ 2 you pay for admission. I had no idea the lighthouse was still in use, or that there were lots of shipwrecks there in the past. The docent was really knowledgeable about the lighthouse and it’s history and she even gave us a great recommendation to drive a bit up the coast to a spot with even nicer views (and a lobster shack).
It’s disappointing that you can’t go up into the lightouse and they only have portable toilets onsite (yuck), but otherwise this is a great spot for scenic views of the lightouse and ocean and a little history.

I’ve always wanted to visit Maine and decided I’d give it a go while I was in Massachusetts for business. I drove up to Portland and visited Portland Head Light, after a brief stop in New Hampshire to see Plum Island Light. Portland Head Light is located in a park area with plenty of space for play or leisure. The lighthouse and views are incredible. There is a small gift shop attached and the prices are reasonable. If you visit, go on the cliff walk. It offers great views and fantastic photo ops for the lighthouse. Very much worth the visit.

I had never visited a lighthouse before or the ocean so seeing the Portland Head was a really nice treat for me. Not only is it picturesque, it’s also the oldest lighthouse in Maine and the Atlantic Ocean sits perfectly behind it.
The lighthouse itself was a wonder to behold. You could walk for miles along the cliffs to see the ocean (my boyfriend wasn’t into that so we opted not to). The park is right there so it’s easy to swim or picnic, or even fly kites as most people were doing the second day we visited.
Not a fault of the lighthouse but the port-​a-​potties at the park were disgusting. They had about 12 and I checked the first six before finding a usable one. All were either littered with trash inside, or had excrement on the seats, or out of toilet paper. Thankfully the one I found was in okay condition, had toilet paper, and hand sanitizer.
The gift shop was small but contained a lot. I ended up getting the Portland Head ornament, a sea glass necklace, and a pair of turquoise bracelets. They also had shirts, cups, keychains, other jewelry, calendars, etc.
I will say that there were a couple of younger women working in the shop and everytime I looked, they were watching me and I’m not sure why. The store was busy but they seemed to focus on me, especially when trying the bracelet on to see if it fit. I’m not really into being watched when I go into a store and considering there were at least 7 other people in the store, they focused their eyes on me (and I’m older than they were).
The museum was a nice quick visit. It was affordable to see the history of the lighthouse (people were complaining about the price and one woman tried to sneak in without paying).
The lighthouse is also a short walk away from Bite Into Maine, a local food truck that serves amazing lobster rolls.

I «inherited» a lovely framed photo of the Portland Head Light when Steve A. and I joined our lives. It is proudly displayed in our living room and I see it everyday. I had a lot of built up excitement when we planned our tripped to Portland this summer and placed this beautiful lighthouse on our list. The Portland Head Light is located in the incredible Fort Williams Park. Summer is of course a lovely time to visit: green grass, beautiful flowers, sunny weather, etc. As you drive in, skip the first parking lot to your left and continue around the corner to the right. Park in the first parking lot around the curve on the right hand side. Mount the hill and you will be greeted by the most incredible view of the Head Light.
This is truly a MUST VISIT spot right outside Portland. If you enjoy the beauty in nature and being outdoors, this will fill your soul with goodness. It’s not so much a «tons to do» but more a «take in the beauty» activity. You will be wowed by the lighthouse itself, the meticulously kept gardens and especially the cliffs, rocky beaches and incredibly beautiful view of the ocean and surrounding islands. I will never look at that picture on the wall the same way, it is so much more incredible in person. I can’t vouch for the lighthouse museum, we skipped it but definitely TAKE YOUR TIME and walk around Fort Williams Park. It is incredible [even the tourists can be overlooked because of the beauty]. I highly recommend bringing a picnic or grabbing a lobster roll at Bite of Maine (you will NOT be disappointed!) I would easily return to the Portland Head Light and Fort Williams Park in the future. NOTE: Wear sunscreen if it’s a sunny day!

This is probably one of the most scenic views you can get for free in New England. Loved the Portland Head Lighthouse. Driving over, we got excited every time we glimpsed a sneak peek of the ocean. As we reached the Lighthouse, we were floored by the wondrous beauty of it — the lighthouse perched on a cliff with the blue sparkling water beating on the rocks right below.
Unfortunately we came too late for the Museum (around 3pm on a Sunday). However we did a bit of exploring outside. We started off at The Promenade where my friend promptly announced would be the location of her wedding (yes it’s really that gorgeous). Once you’ve had your fill of the Promenade, there is a Cliff Walk that let’s you walk alongside the cliff and get different views of the lighthouse and an area where you can meander down to the rocky beach area and dip your toes in the water.
All along the cliff walk there are spectacular photo spots and benches for those who are wearied out to take a break. I can imagine its quiet a romantic destination for those who want to bring their significant other on a breezy summer night and watch the lighthouse whilst hearing the ocean waves break over the rocks.
If you’re here, check out the Lobster Shack for lunch. It’s only open in the warmer months but it’s a good place for seafood with a view.

Obviously you’ve got to stop by the Lighthouse on your trip to Portland. There are a bunch of things to do here, and it’s quite a serene atmosphere. On one end, there’s the lighthouse and the (very informative) museum — 2 dollars per adult, one dollar per child. Hang out by the lighthouse, take your pic, and watch the waves crash on the rocks. On the other end, there’s a mansion, the Bite Into Maine food truck, picnic tables, and the beach where you can go put your feet in. Wear comfortable shoes and explore the scene.

A short drive from old port. It was very beautiful and scenic to watch the waves crash against the big rocks. Parking was easy and park entrance was free. I wish I had more time to spend here. I would have loved to do a picnic or gone for a jog around the scenic park.

Great state park. Lots of picnic tables and benches on the cliff walk. Cute little gift shop and a museum that cost $ 2 for entrance, $ 1 for kids. You can go up into the lighthouse 11−2pm. Beautiful views and fun watching the ships come in the channel. Make sure you bring a trash bag as you must bring out all you brought in. No trash cans.

Great place for some new England sightseeing. The views are gorgeous and the breeze was so refreshing. There is a lot of green lawns for sitting and picnicking. Great place for some photos.

Okay this place is beautiful I guess but I really think it’s a bit underwhelming. Bf and I were doing a Maine trip and we toured around all the typical popular places. The Portland head Lighthouse obviously made the list. It’s not like I was expecting to have my mind blown or anything while I was there… but it was just so overwhelming. I think the drive into the park that the lighthouse is located in is really stunning since the houses in the area are really majestic. The park itself is SO green and beautiful, and that was nice and everything. But then you just get to the lighthouse and you’re a bit like okay. So this is the lighthouse. Let’s go take our picture. Alright that was a pretty good picture I guess. Now what? I guess we could walk around the park but it’s really just grass on a hill so we could do that or we could go back to Portland and go eat lobster rolls. So maybe it’s a utility thing?
I might not be giving it enough credit – it’s pretty, but is it really a drop dead beautiful lighthouse? Meh. A large part of it is also gated off so you don’t really get to play around the rocks and everything – I realize that’s probably a safety hazard, but I personally really liked the Pemaquid Lighthouse more than this one just because I felt like I could interact with the space the lighthouse was in more than I could in this one.
tldr; it’s an iconic thing that you’re going to have to do, but I found it underwhelming.

I had always seen pictures of Maine and besides the Maine Lobster this was one of the reasons I wanted to visit Maine. This scenic picture is one of those that stay engraved in your mind as being a top memorable place visited. It is such an amazing place. I have seen many pictures at different times of the year and the lighthouse takes on a whole different feel. It was a rainy, gloomy day, but not even that would deter from its beauty. I am so glad to have had the chance to visit.

This place is simply stunning; I can definitely see why people want to come and take photos and bask in the beautiful landscape of this lighthouse and it’s surrounding park. Although my friend and I arrived too late to see the museum, the views alone were breathtaking! Plus there were picnic tables and benches for those who would want to relax.
It was a beautiful place to visit and I highly recommend it if you’re ever nearby. It costs nothing, is open from sunrise until sunset. and it was a great place to see!

Visiting this lighthouse was not just a tourist attraction curiosity for me… it was the culmination of a lifelong dream. Since I was a child I have always been into adventure and dreamed of faraway places to explore.
As you could probably imagine, Indiana Jones fascinated me as a child. I desperately wanted to be an archaeologist so that I could discover new/​old things and visit interesting places like Pompeii or Machu Picchu. Well, I never became an archaeologist, but I have never lost my love for adventure. I read so many mysteries and other books that highlighted Maine and some of its lighthouses that it became a high priority on the list of places I would like to visit. Through Unilocal I finally found the courage to make the 1,200 mile trek to this mysterious land.
What influence did Unilocal have you ask? Aside from increasing my desire by pouring through reviews of local places to eat and things to do, Unilocal introduced me to a very important person. He won’t like it, but I’m going to brag on him anyway:
I met Brian S because we are two peas in a pod when it comes to sending out compliments. We quickly became Unilocal friends and decided to meet in Tampa to share a meal and became real life friends. Well, it wasn’t long before his passion for Maine and personal experiences lead him to extend an offer for us to visit him and his wife in Rhode Island. After several months of planning, we finally made this dream trip a reality.
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I’ve never been north of Myrtle Beach on the East Coast, so I routed a road trip of a lifetime that took us from Atlanta to Myrtle Beach, then Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York City, Rhode Island, Maine, Boston, Virginia Beach and back home. I planned every step of our trip except for the far Northeast where Brian and his knowledge of the area guided us.
He showed us many wonderful places, but nothing in all my travels, not Waimea Canyon in Hawaii, not the El Yunque rain forest in Puerto Rico, not the view from the top of the Sears Tower or the overlooks in the Smoky Mountains compared to the overwhelming serenity of sitting before this magical lighthouse.
My son and I complete jigsaw puzzles together, tape the backs so they don’t fall apart and hang the most recent ones on a wall in our home. Portland Head lighthouse was one of our favorites. I told him «someday» we will go there… and someday was today. I feel so blessed and honored to have been able to share my passion for travel and my love for adventure with my family. It all happened from a chance encounter with a scruffy guy on Unilocal who loves reviewing lighthouses and libraries. Brian and Cindy, I am eternally grateful for your friendship. Thank you for showing me one of the most beautiful places I may ever see in my lifetime.
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HISTORY
Portland, once known as Falmouth, completed construction of this lighthouse in January of 1791, after a 1787 shipwreck that killed two people. President George Washington appointed the first light keeper who eventually lobbied for a salary of $ 160 a year. Unfortunately he died of a stroke and another lighthouse keeper was appointed with a salary increase to $ 225 annually, then $ 300 after a petition was submitted on his behalf with 22 signatures in 1812.
In 1891, the current Keeper’s house was constructed of Victorian architecture. This lighthouse has a rich history of colorful keepers and tragic wrecks over its 200 plus years of existence. I have included a link for those of you who would like to know more than my review can cover:

Nach einem anstrengenden Einkauf in Freeport und einem Zwischenstopp auf einem Erdbeerfeld, haben wir noch die Küste angesteuert. Dort befindet sich «Portland Head Light», der wohl älteste Leuchtturm in Maine, umgeben vom Fort Williams Park.
Im Jahre 1790 wurde der Leuchtturm fertig gestellt, seit 1989 wird er nur noch automatisiert betrieben. Im Leuchtturmwärterhaus befindet sich ein Museum, das von Mitte April bis Mitte Dezember Stücke zur Geschichte des Leuchtturms ausstellt.
Im Fort Williams Park gibt es genügend Parkplätze, um dann danach auf den schön angelegten Wegen an der rauhen und felsigen Küste bis zum Leuchtturm zu wandern. Von verschiedenen Standorten hat man eine schöné Perspektive, um das eine oder andere schöné Foto zu schießen.
Aus der Nähe macht der Leuchtturm einen imposanten Eindruck. Die ausgestellte große Glocke wurde ebenfalls von unseren Kindern bewundert.
Ein wirklich schöner Leuchtturm, der zu einem Fotostopp einlädt.