National Lighthouse Day is August 7, but you can celebrate early at Old Baldy (NC)
It was on August 7 in 1789 that Congress approved an Act for the establishment and support of lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and public piers. In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Act and the commissioning of the first federal lighthouse, Congress passed a resolution that designated August 7, 1989, as National Lighthouse Day.
Bald Head Lighthouse (Old Baldy) was built in 1817. It’s the 13th oldest lighthouse in the United States. To commemorate its more than two centuries of history, the Old Baldy Foundation is hosting National Lighthouse Day Weekend.
For three days, there will be activities, tours, and much more. Celebrations kick off today (August 2) with a Roaring 20s History Happy Hour at the lighthouse. Tomorrow, there will be the annual rubber duck race. On Sunday, there is the National Lighthouse Day Festival and Run for the 5l, 10k, and One Mile Fun Run. There will also be a reenactment festival with a tribute to the Coast Guard, a BBQ, music, refreshments, and games for the whole family. The event is free, but there is a fee for the ferry from Southport to Bald Head Island.
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Plum Island Lighthouse (NY) to get $1.5 for restoration
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Army Corps of Engineers will allocate $1.5 million of their yearly budget toward the restoration of the historic Plum Island Lighthouse, Rep. Lee Zeldin announced Tuesday. Restoration work is scheduled to be completed by December 2020.
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“The Lighthouse” trailer released
Writer/director Robert Eggers’ film The Lighthouse was first seen at the Cannes Film Festival to great acclaim. Starring Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson and set on a New England island in the 1890s, the film chronicles the story of two lighthouse keepers as they begin to lose their sanity while facing their worst nightmares.
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Point Bolivar Lighthouse (TX) needs $2.5 million in repairs
Owners of the 147-year-old lighthouse on Bolivar Peninsula are developing plans to repair the historic structure, an effort that comes as the lighthouse was named to the Galveston Historical Foundation Heritage at Risk List.
The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1933. Plans to convert the tower and grounds into a public park failed, and in 1946 the government sold the lighthouse as surplus property to the E.V. Boyt interests, which closed it to the public. Ultimately, the Boyt family would like to open the lighthouse up to the public.
Click here for more on this story.
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Cape Canaveral replica keepers’ house will be a museum
Cape Canaveral Lighthouse Foundation officials have wrapped up construction of a replica keeper’s cottage, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place July 18. They will next furnish the two-story structure as a museum, featuring artifacts and educational displays. The museum may open by early November.
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Centennial celebration to be held at Tawas Point State Park and Lighthouse (MI)
The public is invited to help celebrate 100 years of Michigan State Parks on Wednesday, Aug. 7, at Tawas Point State Park and Lighthouse on Lake Huron in northern Michigan. The family-friendly event – held in conjunction with National Lighthouse Day – will take place at the park, located at 686 Tawas Beach Rd. in East Tawas.
Click here for details on this event
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Wine and climbs for National Lighthouse Day at Absecon Lighthouse (NJ)
On Wednesday, Aug. 7, kids can climb Absecon Lighthouse in Atlantic City, New Jersey, for free (with an adult) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in honor of National Lighthouse Day. But that’s not all — there will be a range of activities all day.
Click here for more information.
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Montauk Lighthouse (NY) getting a makeover
Visitors to Montauk Point Lighthouse may not notice it yet, but a tower restoration expected to cost just shy of $1.1 million is in its early stages this summer. The restoration is to be done in three phases and is expected to be completed by 2021.
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If you have items of interest to the lighthouse community and its supporters, please email them to Jeremy at jeremy@uslhs.org
Jeremy D’Entremont is the author of more than 20 books and hundreds of articles on lighthouses and maritime history. He is the president and historian for the American Lighthouse Foundation and founder of Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses, and he has lectured and narrated cruises throughout the Northeast and in other regions. He is also the producer and host of the U.S. Lighthouse Society podcast, “Light Hearted.” He can be emailed at Jeremy@uslhs.org