After a fierce storm ravaged the Portland Harbor area in 1831, officials saw the need for not only a breakwater to protect the town, but also a lighthouse to guide mariners to safety through the uncharted waters. Construction began immediately.

In 1836 the breakwater and lighthouse began to take shape. The completion of the new additions was halted because of a lack of funds. But in 1854 construction began again and once the breakwater was finished, the lighthouse was erected. It was a small, octagonal tower, complete with a Sixth Order Fresnel Lens.

The walk between the lighthouse and the land was very treacherous, making it dangerous for keepers to traverse the windy, icy path. Many keepers even had to crawl to get back to the lighthouse!

Once the breakwater was extended, in 1870, a new lighthouse was built at the end of the structure. The original tower was moved to Little Diamond Island and became a lookout tower.

The new lighthouse was first lit in 1875. Locals began referring to it is “Bug Light”. With its cast iron tower and fluted columns, it is a very regal looking sentinel. One that almost resembles something you would see in our nations capitol. This new lighthouse also housed a Sixth Order Lens. A keepers house was built in 1889. Portland Breakwater Light was extinguished in 1942 during World War II. The light was no longer necessary and was sold to a private owner.

In 1985 it was donated to the City of Portland and in 1989 the Maine Historical Preservation Committee appropriated funds to renovate the sentinel. Another renovation project took place after the lighthouse experienced a hard decade of wear and tear. The relighting ceremony was held in 2002. During the ceremony Jack Roberts, President of South Portland-Cape Elizabeth Rotary Club and Cape Elizabeth Town Council Chairman summed it up best, “This Lighthouse is so much more than stone and ivory. It is a living history. This lighthouse has stood the test of time for over 127 years. With loving care it will be here for another century and beyond.”