Portland Highlights

Situated along the beautiful rocky coast in Cape Elizabeth, Fort Williams Park was a military outpost for coastal defence.It is also the home of the oldest lighthouse in Maine, the Portland Head Light. Construction began in 1787 under the instruction of the General Court of Massachusetts and, in 1790, the United States Government took responsibility for all lighthouses. The lighthouse was first illuminated on 10th January 1791, and has since stood at the gateway to Portland Harbour for mariners travelling Maine’s perilous coast.

You’ll find a gracious mix of architectural styles and quaint streets that weave through the Old Port. Once the home of the warehouse district, the red brick buildings have been transformed into charming restaurants, pubs, unique boutiques and galleries.

One of America’s best-preserved Victorian residential neighbourhoods, is Western Promenade, built on a cliff edge rising 175 feet above sea level, the area remains one of the wealthiest in the city.Whilst at the Eastern Promenade, you’ll pass historic Fort Allen Park for an excellent view of the Casco Bay Islands and the Portland Observatory.

Portland’s new Arts District, with its ‘Main Street U.S.A.’ feel, is home to City Hall, Portland Public Library, Maine College of Art, the Portland Museum of Art and a number of galleries and shops.