A Few of My Favorite Things - Lighthouses of America

Happy National Lighthouse Day!

According to the National Lighthouse Foundation , on this day in 1789, Congress approved an Act for the establishment and support of lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and public piers.  To commemorate the signing of this act 200 years prior, on December 7, 1989 congress established this day as National Lighthouse Day (but only for that year)!  However, lighthouse organizations around the world celebrate this day annually.

Whenever we travel, I make it a point to take pictures of lighthouses.  Therefore, in honor of National Lighthouse Day, I want to share with you four of my favorite lighthouses from our adventures!

New England

Cape Cod Highland Lighthouse – Truro, Massachusetts

While we were on our 2014 New England adventure, I made George drive out of our way, just so I could see the Cape Cod Highland Lighthouse.  This lighthouse was originally built in 1797, then rebuilt in 1853.  It was replaced in the same location with the current structure in 1857.  Unfortunately, due to erosion, this lighthouse was only 100 feet away from the edge of the cliff.  The citizens of the town of Truro raised money to have this lighthouse moved to its current location.  The lighthouse is open from Mid May to Mid October…and cost to climb the lighthouse is $4.

Florida

St. Marks Lighthouse – St. Marks, Florida

We stumbled upon this lighthouse while on a road trip through the panhandle of Florida. We saw a brown sign, and headed towards it! The St. Marks Lighthouse is located in the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge.  It was originally built in 1830, but it was built with hollow walls and had to be rebuilt with solid walls.  The completion of that project was done in 1831.  In 1835, the second Seminole Indian War became a safety concern for the groundskeeper.  Luckily there were no attacks in this immediate area.  In 1842, the lighthouse had to be moved to save it from erosion.  The lighthouse also survived some major hurricanes in the 1840’s and 1850’s, but by the 1860’s the Civil War became a cause of concern.  A Federal fleet shelled the vicinity of the lighthouse in preparation for landing a force.  In late 1866, after the conflict, the lighthouse was repaired.  In 1883 the tower was extended an additional ten feet.  The lighthouse is 88 feet tall and has 85 steps. 

Oregon

Yaquina Head Lighthouse - Newport, Oregon

This lighthouse was one of the many things we fell in love with while driving down the coast of Oregon on our first trip from Alaska back to Florida. Construction of the lighthouse began in 1871.  It was completed in 1872…and is still on record as Oregon’s tallest lighthouse.  In the 1930’s the light was changed from oil to electricity.  In 1966, a computer was installed a there was no longer a need for a groundkeeper.  One of the best parts about this lighthouse is definitely its location.  In the areas surrounding the lighthouse, you can often spot humpback whales migrating, harbor seals lying on the rocks, and a variety of other sea animals seen in the tide pools.  This place is must while traveling along coastal Oregon!

Alaska

Eldred Rock - Haines, AK

Located along the Lynn Canal in between Juneau and Skagway, this has to be one of the most scenic lighthouses that I have ever seen.  We have been lucky enough to see it from air and by ferry while traveling back and forth from Skagway to Juneau. The lighthouse was built in 1905, which makes it the oldest original lighthouse in Alaska! It is registered on the National Register of Historic Places. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1973 and has been operated remotely since then!  It is not open to the public, but there are rumors that it is for sale! 

Hoping this insight into a few of my favorite lighthouses will help you as we celebrate these beautiful and important structures from our history!  Feel free to let me know which lighthouses are your favorites!