As trade flourished, the lack of markers for the entrance to Portland Harbor made the journey a dangerous one for incoming merchants, leading to the construction of the state's first lighthouse.

We are hoping to start construction in early 2026 and finish in early 2027,” said Rod Harmon, of Avesta Housing.

World Monuments Watch says Maine's historic lighthouses are threatened by climate change and intensifying coastal storms, like the ones that battered some of the iconic beacons in January 2024.