50 Travel Destinations Every American Simply Must Visit In Their Lifetime

38. Portland Head Light – Portland, Maine

This site has a lot of history attached to it. It was commissioned in 1790 by George Washington to keep the ships safe that were heading to land. Nearby is Fort Williams Park, where the lighthouse keepers’ quarters once were. Something is striking about its appearance, with its striking white body and black cap, arising out of the rocky cliffs jutting out into the ocean, along with the red roof of the nearby quarters. It still operates today, but everything is now automated and maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard.