Gasparilla Island Lighthouse (FL) Tours on Oct. 14 and 27
There will be rare docent-led tours of the Gasparilla Island Lighthouse, Florida, a.k.a. Port Boca Grande Lighthouse, from 9 a.m. to noon on October 14 and 27. All proceeds support the continuing restoration and preservation of this historical treasure.
Click here for more information
Click here for more on the lighthouse
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Restoration work at Block Island Southeast Lighthouse (RI)
Abcore Restoration has completed work at Rhode Island’s Block Island Southeast Lighthouse, including repairs to the lighthouse base and lantern deck. “They’ve been fantastic. We love their work,” Southeast Lighthouse Foundation Director Lisa Nolan said said. Nolan also said the project was finished early and was on budget.
Click here for more on the story.
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Dolly Snow Bicknell shines her light
Dolly Snow Bicknell, longtime president of Project Gurnet and Bug Lights — the steward of Plymouth Light Station and Duxbury Pier Light Station in Massachusetts — is profiled today in an article in the Patriot Ledger.
Dolly was also interviewed for episode 3 of the U.S. Lighthouse Society’s podcast, Light Hearted. You can listen using the player below.
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Wind Point Lighthouse (WI) open for climbing on Sunday, October 6
Wind Point Lighthouse in Racine Harbor, 108 feet tall, will be open for tower climbs every 30 minutes this Sunday, October 6. Guides will be available to answer questions.
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Columbus Day Open House at Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse (NH) to benefit Friends of Flying Santa
On Monday, October 14, 2019 — Columbus Day — Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses will welcome Santa Claus for a special open house at Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse in New Castle, New Hampshire, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. There will be opportunities for photos with Santa, with the lighthouse and the beautiful Piscataqua River as a backdrop.
All proceeds from this open house will go to Friends of Flying Santa, the nonprofit organization that brings seasonal cheer to U.S. Coast Guard families in the Northeast. The tradition the Friends are keeping alive dates back to 1929. To learn more about this wonderful organization, click here.
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Penobscot River, 15-Lighthouse & Fall Foliage Photography Tour from Bar Harbor, Maine, on October 12
Saturday, October 12, 2019 (9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.)
Guided by Lighthouse Historians/Author: Jeremy D’Entremont & Gene Torbeck (Navy Officer Ret.). With photography expert Michael Leonard of the Portland Camera Club.
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U.S. Lighthouse Society News is produced by the U.S. Lighthouse Society to support lighthouse preservation, history, education and research. You can receive these posts via email if you click on the “SUBSCRIBE” button in the right-hand column. Please support this electronic newsletter by joining the U.S. Lighthouse Society if you are not already a member.
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
Clarification: The Gasparilla Island Lighthouse (which you pictured) is the former Boca Grande Rear Range Light. Port Boca Grande Lighthouse is the cottage-style lighthouse at the south end of the island (confusingly, it was originally known as Gasparilla Island Lighthouse because it was the only lighthouse on the island when it was built). Both lighthouses are now maintained by the same organization, the non-profit Barrier Island Parks Society.
Yes, this is a bit confusing. Thanks so much for the clarification, Josh. Port Boca Grande Lighthouse & Museum is a wonderful place to visit, beautifully maintained.