Keepers first lit Portland Head Light on January 10, 1791. It now stands as the oldest lighthouse in the state and an iconic symbol of the Maine coast.

Throughout its extensive history, workers have made numerous renovations to the lighthouse and surrounding structures. This image most likely dates from between 1883 and 1885, a brief period when workers reduced the tower's height by 20 feet before restoring it to its original length in 1885.