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Ram Island Ledge Lighthouse Fun Facts
Location: Portland Harbor/Casco Bay
Closest City: Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Latitude: 43.6317 Longitude: -70.1867
Body of Water: Casco Bay
Open to Public: No
Station Established: 1905
Present Tower Activated: 1905
Status of Light: Operational
Tower Height: 72 ft.
Optic: 300mm,
Third Order Fresnel, 1905
National Register Reference #: 88000157
Listing Name: Ram Island Ledge Light Station
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As with the light on Spring Point Ledge, the Ram Island Ledge lighthouse was only constructed after countless shipwrecks finally prompted the federal government to act. An iron spindle had been placed on this treacherous piece of rock in 1855 and then, in 1873, a 50 foot wooden triangle replaced the spindle to warn mariners of the dangers of passing to close to Ram Island. Both were useless at night or in fog. This ledge is a tricky one as it is visible at low tide, but at high tide becomes completely submersed, giving the impression that passage is viable.
In February, 1900 the ship California, a 400 foot transatlantic steamer with more than one hundred people aboard slammed into the Ram Island Ledge and become lodged on the rocks. All aboard were saved but it took over six weeks to move the ship off the ledge. In late 1902, two more ships hit the ledges and were lost within three months of each other.
In June of 1902, money was appropriated by Congress to build the Ram Island Ledge lighthouse. Construction did not begin until the next year. Each of the 700 granite blocks, weighing four tons apiece, was cut on shore only to be ferried out to the ledge and assembled by masons. This is one of the last offshore towers made of anything but cast iron. The light was finally lit in April of 1905. There has not a single major wreck on the Ram Island ledge since.
The conical 72 foot Ram Island Ledge lighthouse with black lantern sits directly atop the jagged rock ledge roughly one mile off Portland Head at the south entrance to Portland Harbor. The keeper's residence in contained within the tower itself. The light was converted to electrical power from kerosene in 1958 and automated in 1959.
Ownership of the Ram Island Ledge lighthouse was open from transfer under the Maine Lights Program administered by the Island Institute in Rockland. Unfortunately, no takers were found and the site remains the property of the U.S. Coast Guard. The fifth order Fresnel lens has been replaced by a 300mm optic which was converted to solar power in 2001. The site is closed to the public but can be easily seen from the Portland Head lighthouse.
Lighthouse Accessibility
- The Ram Island Ledge site is closed to the public.
- Great views can be had from Portland Head.
- A local boat tour may pass near the site.
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