A late summer breeze blew salty and cool off the coast of Casco Bay as crowds of visitors lined up to enter the Portland Breakwater Lighthouse on Saturday morning. 

The small lighthouse, also known as Bug Light, was a part of Maine Open Lighthouse Day, an annual event sponsored by the American Lighthouse Foundation that offers visitors a rare opportunity to see inside some of Maine’s iconic and historic lighthouses. 

As one of the only chances to climb and explore the history of Maine’s lighthouses, Lighthouse Day attracts over 15,000 visitors a year. This year, Bug Light saw visitors from all over the country. 

Katy Laswell, who lives in Texas, was visiting a friend in Portland this weekend. The pair decided to visit the lighthouses because of Laswell’s longstanding love of them. 

“I’ve always loved lighthouses,” Laswell said. “This was super fun.” 

Her friend, Jana Gentry Smith, is originally from Missouri but moved to Maine three years ago. 

“I love lighthouses and Maine’s beautiful coast,” Gentry Smith said. “But Bug Light is my favorite because it’s so cute and miniature, and you can see the city skyline.” 

Bug Light’s short stature, a mere 26 feet, was a point of interest among visitors. Most lighthouses range in height from 33 feet to 208 feet. Built in 1855, the historic Bug Light is “known for its diminutive size and elegance,” according to the Visit Portland Maine website. 

Maggie McNabb, who moved from Chicago to Portland last year, said Bug Light is also her favorite lighthouse in the Portland area. 

“It’s really cute and small,” McNabb said. 

Friends of McNabb’s came to visit her from Boston, and she decided to take them to Maine Open Lighthouse Day to explore some of Maine’s maritime history. 

“It’s a beautiful day out, and we really wanted to take advantage of the weather before it gets too cold,” McNabb said. “I love the view of the Portland skyline.” 

The view of Portland’s signature skyline from the base of Bug Light also seemed to be a theme Saturday morning. Danielle Jones, who moved from Tennessee to Portland only two weeks ago, said she and her family have already enjoyed riding their bikes to Bug Light to take in the view. 

“We love the view from Bug Light,” Jones said. “I saw this event on Facebook, and we thought it would be fun to come.” 

Noting Bug Light’s short stature, Jones said it was “bigger than I thought it would be,” and she “loved the lighthouse aesthetic.” 

Jones’ friend, Sophia Collins, joined her. Although she grew up in Maine, Collins said she had never been to a lighthouse before Saturday. 

“It’s cool seeing the long history of real life,” Collins said. “It’s something you don’t get to see every day.” 

Over at Portland Head Light, lighthouse enthusiast and Salt Lake City resident Stephany Harmon gushed over Lighthouse Day. Harmon and her partner came to Maine from Utah specifically for Lighthouse Day, and planned to drive from Portland to North Carolina, stopping at iconic lighthouses along the way. For Harmon, Lighthouse Day was “totally exuberant.” 

“I’ve always been into lighthouses, and the fact that they always shine,” she said. “Every time I look at a lighthouse, it makes me happy.” 

When planning her East Coast roadtrip, Harmon knew she wanted to start in Maine so she could experience Maine Open Lighthouse Day. 

“I wanted to see the lighthouses here and their beauty,” Harmon said. 

Portland Head Light in particular fascinated Harmon. 

“It being the first government commissioned lighthouse really intrigued me,” she said.

The oldest lighthouse in Maine, Portland Head Light was funded by the General Court of Massachusetts and the United States Government, after Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton appropriated $1,500 for the lighthouse to be completed. Portland Head Light was first lit in January 1791, guiding ships along Maine’s coast to safety. 

For lighthouse enthusiasts like Harmon, Portland Head Light’s long history and intriguing story are irresistible. 

“I remember seeing pictures of lighthouses, and Portland Head Light looked really unique,” Harmon said. 

But for anyone interested in seeing Maine’s iconic lighthouses, whether lighthouse enthusiasts or casual enjoyers, visitors or lifelong Mainers, Lighthouse Day was a chance to see inside the beacons that light up Maine’s beloved coast.