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The lighthouse is an icon of our maritime history. Untold numbers of ships have been kept from disaster and countless numbers of sailors from harm by these historical navigational aids. Today we have modern buoys with flashing lights tended by Coast Guard buoy tenders and the need for a lighthouse keeper and his family to live on station tending a light to keep ships off of the rocks is long gone. Modern lighthouses still in use today are often kept and maintained by historical preservation organizations and donations from private persons. Such is the case with the Portland Head Light but not with the Ram Island Ledge Light which was purchased by a private individual in July 2010 for 190,000 dollars (The new owner purchased it to preserve it and no commercial use is planned).
The Portland Head Light from seaward. It is a beautiful and well maintained historical landmark.
Portland head light in the autumn sunset. Fall foliage is running late this year due to warm weather.
The Ram Island Ledge Light on a fine autumn day.
Shown here in moderate weather the Ram Island Ledge Light stands up to the waves. It's granite construction has withstood the test of time but must take an awful beating in heavy weather.
Even in moderate weather the waves go higher than the old pier which stands almost twenty feet above the ledge.
Built out of granite quarried from the island of Vinalhaven this rugged landmark can take a pounding.
That one is going in the windows.
Sunset on Platt's Bank.
Light Houses aren't just tourist attractions, they are used for navigation. This is a little clip of what that looks like at night taken from Fishing Vessel Osprey while driving past the Portland Head Light
The video and images in this article were taken in the last few days from Fishing Vessel Osprey while navigating past (and between) the two light houses. All images are copyrighted all rights reserved.
