Description: The
Cape Elizabeth lighthouse was named after the daughter of King James I and Queen Anne of Denmark. A pair of lighthouses was built in 1827 to mark the entrance to Portland Harbor. They became markers for mariners entering the harbor in order to help them get their bearings. During World War II, one of the towers became an observation post and soon after, the west tower was extinguished for good and became privately owned—it was bought by Bette Davis' ex-husband in 1971 before it was passed on to two other buyers in the 1980s.
Today, the Cape Elizabeth lighthouse is one of the most famous symbols of Maine.
Edward Hopper immortalized it in his paintings in the 1920s, one of which became a postage stamp to commemorate Maine's statehood anniversary. It remains an active aid to navigation and is still maintained by the Coast Guard. You can still see the second light to your left if you stand facing the lighthouse closest to the water.
You can walk on the rocks to get a better view of the harbor—just be careful that you do not slip and fall! The tide gets too high sometimes and makes the rocks slippery.
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