Observed annually on August 7, National Lighthouse Day honors the beacon of light that for hundreds of years symbolized safety and security for ships and boats at sea. At one time, the beacon of light could be found across almost all of America’s shorelines.
On August 7, 1789, the United States Congress approved an act for the “establishment and support of Lighthouse, Beacons, Buoys, and Public Piers.” It was two hundred years later that Congress designated August 7 as National Lighthouse Day.
- THE OLDEST EXISTING LIGHTHOUSE IN THE WORLD is considered to be La Coruna in Spain that dates from ca. 20 B.C. A Roman lighthouse is located on the Cliffs of Dover in the UK that was constructed in 40 A.D.
- THE FIRST LIGHTHOUSE IN AMERICA was at Boston on Little Brewster Island (1716). The first keeper was George Worthylake who was drowned, along with his wife and daughter, when returning to the island in 1718. The original tower was destroyed by the British and eventually reconstructed in 1784.
- THE OLDEST EXISTING LIGHTHOUSE IN AMERICA (never rebuilt) is Sandy Hook, NJ (1764), which is still in operation. Part of the building of the lighthouse was paid for by the sale of lottery tickets and shipping interest in New York City paid for the rest.
- FIRST LIGHTHOUSE BUILT COMPLETELY BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT was Montauk Point, NY in 1797.
- THE ONLY TRIANGULAR-SHAPED LIGHTHOUSE TOWER is Sullivan’s Island in Charleston, SC.
- THE ONLY LIGHTHOUSE EQUIPPED WITH AN ELEVATOR is Sullivan’s Island in Charleston, SC.
- THE NUMBER OF LIGHTHOUSES WHEN WE BECAME A NATION IN 1776 was 12.
- THE MOST EXPENSIVE LIGHTHOUSE BUILT IN AMERICA is St. George Reef, off Crescent City, CA. It took ten years to construct (1882 – 1892) and cost $715,000.00. The Coast Guard abandoned it in 1972.
- THE FIRST AMERICAN LIGHTHOUSE TO USE ELECTRICITY was the Statue of Liberty in 1886.
A lighthouse is described as a tower, building or any other type of structure that is designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways.
Lighthouses:
- Mark dangerous coastlines, hazardous shoals, reefs, safe entries to harbors.
- Assist in aerial navigation.
- Have declined due to the expense of maintenance and replacement by modern electronic navigational systems.
- Has a source of light called a “lamp” (may be electric or oil fueled).
- Were originally lit by open fire and then candles.
- Differ depending on the location and purpose but have standard components.
- Has a lantern room which is a glassed-in housing at the top of a lighthouse tower.
- Has a Watch Room or Service Room beneath the lantern room.
- Has an open gallery outside the Watch Room or Lantern Room.
- Development accelerated in the 17th century with Britain’s Trinity House constructing its first in 1609.
- At the end of the 19th century, the United States had the most lighthouses of any nation.
- Visiting and photographing lighthouses has become a popular hobby as well as collecting ceramic replicas.
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