portland breakwater lighthouse

Lighthouses are beautiful. Quaint little things that help ships navigate rocky waters into safe ports. What we didn't expect with this one, was the small adventure it was to jump between the boulders that lead out to this lighthouse and then climb narrow metal ladders to get to the tour. That in itself, made it so much more fun than the rest of the lighthouses we visited while in Maine. Worth Doing.

Very charming little light house from the 19th century that’s on the list of USA historic places. There’s a short walk along the water along with a big open green space for running with dogs and kids. I could definitely see this place as a thriving metropolis of kite flyers during the summer. There’s far less walking to be had as compared to the Portland Head Lighthouse, and the setting is less dramatic, but it’s still worth seeing, especially if you’re a softy for lighthouses in Maine.

The Portland Breakwater Lighthouse is a great place to go look at Portland itself and the harbor. A wonderful place for a family visit or even for couples to walk or sit hand in hand. Pick up a Bella Terra Maine Lighthouses Illustrated Map & Guide to find other great lighthouses in the area.

Not to crowded and the different views from the trails were fantastic. Easy access to and from the park.

It doesn't take much time to see the Bug Light, as it's known - it's small, and you park, walk out to it, ta-da, done. But it is a must-see for the lighthouse seeker. On a tour of Portland's light stations, it's almost walking distance from the Spring ledge light and would be a shame to miss, as its Greek revival style is unique in lighthousedom. I found it one of the prettiest little lighthouses I have seen.There is an enxhibit on liberty boats in the park, and a museum and gift shop, so there is more to do than just see the light.Recommended.

The tour was very informative and interesting especially in town. You also go to the lighthouse which has great views. A must do.

This is an easy lighthouse to drive to. Its right across the bridge from Portland. I especially liked the view of this lighthouse from a boat in the Portland harbor. This lighthouse is especially interesting for its unusual architecture. It's another must see.

In the most scenic area ever. LOVE the boats coming in and the history of the area. Absolutely gorgeous!

This lighthouse is easily accessed and has plenty of parking. Great for pictures, with Portland in the background.

This park/lighthouse is absolutely worth a stop if you are in the Portland area. My wife and I actually biked to this park on the South Portland Pathway, an easy 2.1 mi paved level ride through some small neighborhoods with great views of the Portland skyline along the way.This park is right across the bay/harbor of Portland so you get a great view of the city. The lighthouse is small but full of unique features that make it a wonderful little stop. Don't forget to visit the monument to this area's ship building past as well. It has a some great kiosks that explain the importance of this area during WWII. Most of all, be sure to take a moment to relax and just take in the scenery. It is a picturesque spot to spend an afternoon.

See it and enjoy it! It is a great view and a nice landmark. When weather is clear it is a great scene

THESE PHOTOS ARE OF THE CORRECT LIGHTHOUSE. Believe me. I've been here too many times to count.The BREAKWATER is CONCEALED BEHIND THE BIG SIGN that says PORTLAND BREAKWATER LIGHTHOUSE. One can read it in the photo. Portland Breakwater Lighthouse is located in Bug Light Park at the end of Madison Avenue. The lighthouse was first built as a wooden structure in 1855. The current tower was built in 1875 with sections of cast iron and lined with brick. Its design was modeled after the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Athens. It has six decorative Corinthian columns that cover the seams of the sections. It is one of Maine’s prettiest lighthouses. It was built here to warn of shoals and a breakwater that later all but disappeared as adjacent shipyards expanded during World War II. It was deactivated in 1942. Its function as a navigational aid is past.Properties:Tower Height: 26 feetHeight of Focal Plane: 30 feetOriginal Optic: Sixth order Fresnel lensPresent optic: 250 mm lensCharacteristic: Flashes white every 4 secondsThe lighthouse is owned and operated by the City of South Portland. There is ample free parking near the lighthouse along the waterfront at Bug Light Park.At the other end of the park is Liberty Ship Memorial which celebrates this land’s history as shipyards that built Liberty Ships from 1941 to 1945 during World War II. It is worth a visit.For me and two friends, no trip to the Greater Portland area is complete without a visit to Bug Light Park, Portland Breakwater Lighthouse a/k/a Bug Light, and several other lighthouses within a few miles. On our most-recent visit we happened to arrive just a few minutes before the Portland Schooner Company’s 66-foot schooner Bagheera was returning from a two-hour sail. That made a great addition to photos of Bug Light. Casco Bay Lines ferries passengers to and around the islands of Casco Bay. It seems that one of their distinctive ferries with a white top and yellow bottom passes by every 15 minutes on its way in and out of nearby Portland Harbor. They will make colorful additions to your photos of the lighthouse and nearby Fort Gorges. BRING YOUR CAMERA and BINOCULARS.Most parts of Bug Light Park are wheelchair accessible. Someone in a wheelchair can see everything in the park. The parking lot and walkway along the shore over to Bug Light are paved and pretty level. The granite blocks on the walkway along the breakwater have uneven surfaces so getting right up to the lighthouse may not be feasible, but one can certainly get close enough to see and appreciate the details of its design. Spring Point Ledge Light, Fort Preble, and Portland Harbor Museum are about 1+ miles away in South Portland. Portland Head Light in Fort Williams Park, Cape Elizabeth Light (a/k/a Two Lights), Two Lights State Park, and Crescent Beach State Park---all in Cape Elizabeth---are just minutes away. And, Portland's Old Port and downtown areas are only about 15 minutes away.During our most-recent visit, we actually did it all on a full daytrip that lasted from morning until 7:00 PM with stops for lunch and a quick, light supper. But, we've been here several times before.Visiting all these places could become a three-day weekend trip for out-of-staters. If you found this review helpful, kindly click YES below.

This was the final stop on our driving tour of the light houses and 3rd out of 5 that we viewed. It was a nice park with free parking, but not much parking ( maybe because there was a wedding being performed there). Nice views, but you might want to start here and end at the Head Light ( which is where we started). It's hard to top that one! Make sure you stop for a cookie (at the Scratch Baking Co.) between this one and the spring point light.

This is perhaps the shortest lighthouse you'll ever see. It was modeled after a Greek column and is in many lighthouse books. The long breakwater has been filled in over the years, but the history is well displayed on markers. It is known as "Bug Light" due to its diminutive size and is quite famous. Nicely cared for in Bug Like Park.

Yikes, this was hard to find! However, once you find it, you will love it. Located in one of the parks, it is just beautiful and the old abandoned Goddard Mansion is also located there. Look for it.