Departing the pier, drive through historic Portland passing by the Eastern Promenade offering a panoramic view of Casco Bay, the Portland Observatory, the new arts district, as well as the thriving commercial and business districts. Visit Bug Light, a steel structure lined with brick, that was first lighted in 1875 as an aid to navigation for this busy port. In addition, enjoy the Liberty Ship Memorial dedicated to the 266 ships built on the site during WWII. Commonly known as American ugly ducklings, these vessels were the workhorses of the WWII fleet, carrying cargoes of grain and mail, ore and ammo, trucks and troops in the fabled horizon-filling convoys. Then it’s a short jaunt to visit the Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse, a typical sparkplug-style lighthouse constructed of brick on a cylindrical cast-iron caisson. Many vessels ran aground on this dangerous ledge before requests from seven steamship companies in 1891 convinced the government to build a lighthouse. Visit Portland Head Light travel along Cape Elizabeth’s rocky coast to Fort Williams, once a military outpost for coastal defense and now home of Maine’s oldest lighthouse. First illuminated on January 10, 1791, Portland Head Light has since stood at the gateway to Portland Harbor for mariners traveling Maine’s perilous coast. Here you’ll have ample time to explore the grounds and visit the impressive museum located in the former lighthouse keeper’s quarters. The museum chronicles the history of the Portland Head Light and Fort Williams through permanent exhibits displaying original artifacts and documents, navigational aids, lenses, video displays, models and photography.