Portland Head Light

      The next site visit I did was just a touch more touristy, but had to be done. On a crisp early December morning I made the drive over to Cape Elizabeth to see the worlds view of Maine: Portland Head Light. The Light is part of Fort Williams park, which is an old military fort. When I went it was fairly nice out, but because it was off season there was only about 5 cars parked there. Despite this, the museum was open, but I didn't bring any money to get it. The sign said it was only a couple dollars though, so I'll definitely come back
sometime.

The dog again, at the light.

     The people who were here didn't seem to be tourists, though I must have looked pretty touristy, as an older lady told me about where I could find an off leash area for dogs. I must have looked non-local. The people here seemed like they were from the area though, as they were just here with kids, walking dogs, going running, or walking. The museum store looked fairly vacant.
     The lighthouse was decorated for the season, and had a large wreath hanging off the top. Other than that though, the area wasn't decorated noticeably. The area was still very well kept though, even in the non-tourist season. The area was spotless, and the grass was unnaturally green. There is a really good view of the ocean from here, which makes it easy to see why it is as popular as it is.















Historical Significance of Portland Head Light

     The significance of Portland Head Light, to me at least, is very similar to the significance of Monument Square. It's not it's actual purpose that makes it significant, it's what it has become over time. It is not that it is hundreds of years old, or a necessary part of shipping historically that makes it so significant. It's what it represents about Maine and this area. Whether locals like it or not, this is the image much of the rest of the world has of Maine. When people think of Maine, this lighthouse is what they think of. This image has probably brought more people to visit Maine than anything else. It is a matter of opinion, but I believe more than Moose, Lobster, Bean boots, Moxie, or Longfellow's poetry, that this image represents Maine to most people. If you type in Maine in Google, Portland Head Light is the third picture to come up. It is to Maine as the the arch is to St. Louis, the Statue of Liberty is to New York, or the Eiffel Tower is to Paris.