Pretty Portland

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Our Snail Tracks

October 12, 2024

The rocky coast of southern Maine is symbolized with one of the most recognizable lighthouses in New England, the Portland Head Light. Our first stop to this nautical city was the fascinating and ingenious Portland Observatory.

The Observatory was built in 1807 by Captain Lemuel Moody. He was an experienced ship captain who came up with the idea of a tall tower that would serve as a communication station for incoming ships in the busy harbor. Ship owners would pay dues to Captain Moody, who would then alert the local port as the ships were arriving.

With a powerful telescope, Captain Moody could see incoming ships up to 30 miles away, which gave about a four hour warning of which ships would be arriving soon. He would then hoist signal flags identifying the ships, so dockworkers could see who was en route, to get workers ready to unload and reload supplies.

The tower made huge improvements in the efficiency for the Harbor. The Moody family continued to operate the tower until 1923, when the invention of two-way radios made the tower outdated.

*View of the city from the Observation Tower*

*We were able to climb to the top of the Observatory for a birds-eye view.*

The city of Portland was super crowded with tourists, so we decided to take a trolley ride through the city rather than drive. It was a fun way to experience the pretty town.

The trolly ride included a stop at the famous Portland Head Light, located in Cape Elizabeth at Fort Williams Park. It is the oldest lighthouse in Maine, and one of the most frequently featured sights for artists and photographers.