During World War II, 140 acres in South Portland was a shipyard dedicated to manufacturing vessels. 236 Liberty Ships – a class of cargo ship – were built here during a four year period. In 1996, about nine acres of the old shipyard were converted into Bug Light Park. To acknowledge the contribution made to the war effort by about 30,000 people, the Liberty Ship Memorial was erected in 2001. The steel silhouette designed by Richard Renner measures 65 feet long and 35 feet tall.
