liberty ship memorial

This understated, unusual Memorial, dedicated in 2001, honors those who built 236 World War II Liberty ships in all types of Maine weather in a 160-acre (64.7 ha) former shipyard. Its focal point is a gray, steel sculpture, which is about 35 feet (10.6 m) tall and 65 feet (19.8m) long. It features a Liberty Ship’s bow section, as it would have looked being built in dry dock. Its bow faces Casco Bay, in the same direction as such ships were launched. A nearby parking lot is shaped like a Liberty Ship's footprint. The site has five detailed, historical, interpretive murals and a memorial marker. Nearby are Portland Breakwater Lighthouse (1857), the Spring Point Shoreway, and Bug Light Park. The best time to view it is near dawn or during early morning when the structure’s beams cast sharp shadows in the low sunlight.

So many people drive right past this memorial without even seeing it on their way to see Portland Breakwater Light a/k/a Bug Light and the splendid views of Casco Bay and Portland Harbor from Bug Light Park. Why? Mostly because they are looking straight ahead or off to the left when they drive down the access road. The memorial is off to the left. Most people don’t see it until they are leaving the park. The Liberty Ship Memorial is located on a scenic point of land named Bug Light Park overlooking Portland Harbor and Casco Bay. The park was a sprawling World War II shipyard that covered 140 acres of land and included over 60 buildings. It had the capacity to build up to 13 ships at one time. Between 1941 and 1945, South Portland Shipyards built 236 Liberty Ships that contributed greatly to the Allied victory in World War II.The need for Liberty Ships and the shipyards ended with the war. In 1945, the Maine Legislature formed the Greater Portland Public Development Commission (GPPDC). That body acquired, leased, and managed the shipyard properties. In 1996, a group of South Portland residents organized an effort to purchase and preserve a portion of the former Shipyard property for use as a public park. On December 30, 1996, Bug Light Park became a reality. Meanwhile, The Bug Light Park Enhancement group began planning a memorial to South Portland's rich shipbuilding heritage. The result was this Liberty Ship Memorial. It was designed by Renner and Woodworth. It is a magnificent tribute. The main part is a scaled-back skeletal sculpture of a Liberty Ship. It’s about 35 feet tall and 65 feet long. The exposed frames and partial exterior plating illustrate the utilization of pre-assembled parts that allowed Liberty Ships to be constructed very quickly. The Liberty Ships specifications were: Length Overall: 441 feet 6 inches, Beam: 56 feet 10 3/4 inches, and Depth to upper deck: 37 feet 4 inches. Since the ships were launched from the shipbuilding basins with their bows out, the memorial is oriented facing the bay.Inside the structure are info boards:1) SOUTH PORTLAND AND ITS LIBERTY SHIPS - tells of the transition from wooden shipbuilding to steamers. 2) THE YARD - tells how New England Shipbuilding Corp. became the fifth largest emergency shipyard in the nation.3) VOYAGES TO VICTORY - tells how these ships endured adverse weather and ho the US produced the Liberty Ships faster than the German U-Boats could sink them. Of the 2,700 Liberty ships built, 200 were lost. 4) WW II: ON THE HOME FRONT - tells of victory gardens, woman working in defense plants (Rosie the Riveter), war bonds, shortages and rationing5) THE WORK FORCE - Over 30,000 men and women worked here. Many women worked as welders (Wendy the Welder), but they were also machinists, burners, crane operators, and pipe coverers.6) THE UGLY DUCKLINGS - When President Roosevelt saw the plans for the ships, he dubbed them The Ugly Ducklings.SOUTH PORTLAND’S SHIPS OF LIBERTY - 236 complete list of all Liberty Ships built On my most-recent visit with two friends, we were on one of our Greater Portland Lighthouse Pilgrimages, so we were there mostly to see Portland Breakwater Light a/k/a Bug Light. There were a lot of people in the park doing different things---flying kites, walking dogs, bicycling, running, and enjoying the views from the park benches nearby of Casco Bay and the marine traffic. During our visit, Portland Schooner Company’s 66-foot schooner Bagheera was returning from a two-hour sail. That made a great addition to photos of Bug Light. This is an interesting and informational exhibit for quick history of the WW II Liberty Ships that were built in South Portland from 1941 to 1945.Most parts of Bug Light Park are wheelchair accessible. Someone in a wheelchair can see everything in the park. The parking lot and walkway along the shore over to Bug Light are paved and pretty level.Liberty Ship Memorial is within a few hundred yards of Portland Breakwater Light a/k/a Bug Light. Spring Point Ledge Light, Fort Preble, and Portland Harbor Museum are about 1+ miles away in South Portland. Portland Head Light in Fort Williams Park, Cape Elizabeth Light (a/k/a Two Lights), Two Lights State Park, and Crescent Beach State Park---all in Cape Elizabeth---are just minutes away. And, Portland's Old Port and downtown areas are only about 15 minutes away.Casco Bay Lines ferries passengers to and around the islands of Casco Bay. It seems that one of their distinctive ferries with a white top and yellow bottom passes by every 15 minutes on its way in and out of nearby Portland Harbor. They will make colorful additions to your photos of the lighthouse and nearby Fort Gorges. BRING YOUR CAMERA and BINOCULARS.Also, the South Portland Historical Society and Museum can be found near the entrance to Bug Light Park.During our most-recent visit, we actually did it all on a full daytrip that lasted from morning until 7:00 PM with stops for lunch and a quick, light supper. But, we've been here several times before.Visiting all these places could become a three-day weekend trip for out-of-staters. If you found this review helpful, kindly click YES below.

Liberty Ship Monument, located in Bug Light Park. There is a reconstruction of a Liberty Ship bow, on the site where 260+ Liberty Ships were built during WWII. Excellent displays of the construction of Liberty ships and a list of all built in Portland. These ships were built in a matter of weeks and played an important part in supplying our troops ans Allies during the war.