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Lighthouse News of the Week

News of the week July 29, 2022

National Lighthouse Day: Here’s how Brunswick (NC) County’s 2 lighthouses are celebrating

National Lighthouse Day honoring the beacon of light that for 100 years symbolized safety and security for ships and boats at sea, will be observed Sunday, Aug. 7.

Bald Head lighthouse, photo courtesy USLHS archives

In Brunswick County, there are two lighthouses that visitors can tour — Bald Head Island Lighthouse and the Oak Island Lighthouse.

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‘An incredible piece of Texas history’ | Restoration efforts begin for historic 149-year-old Bolivar Point Lighthouse

The lighthouse has been through multiple hurricanes and even survived the Texas City Blast.

Bolivar Point lighthouse, photo courtesy USLHS archives

BOLIVAR PENINSULA, Texas — A structure that has been known as a beacon on the upper Texas coast since 1872 is set to soon get much-needed repairs. 

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Justin Fantasia Memorial Run 4 Rock raises funds for historic Eldred Rock (AK) lighthouse

Juneau runners came together Saturday to celebrate the life of Justin Fantasia while also raising funds for the Eldred Rock Lighthouse in the first Justin Fantasia Memorial Run 4 the Rock at Pioneer Road, formerly known as the Run 4 Rock Foghorn Race.

Eldred Rock lighthouse, photo courtesy USLHS archives

Located roughly 17 miles south of Haines, the Eldred Rock Lighthouse is the oldest in the state and has been added to the National Registry of Historic Places. York said the Preservation Association has been hard at work with renovations and hopes to have new information for the public this fall.

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An island and lighthouse near Acadia (ME) are on the market for $2.3 million

If you are looking for unique housing in coastal Maine, you could buy a private island with a lighthouse for $2.3 million.

Winter Harbor lighthouse, photo courtesy Mike & Carol McKinney

That is the asking price for Mark Island, located on the western side of Schoodic Point in Frenchman Bay.

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Minnesota’s Backyard: Like a beacon, a new campground offers yet another attraction at Split Rock Lighthouse

Home of one of Minnesota’s truly iconic man-made structures, Split Rock Lighthouse State Park is similar in a way. One could spend several days there biking along the North Shore, hiking along the rivers that make their way down to the lake, enjoying the stunning views along the rocky beaches and camping in the Minnesota State Park system’s newest place to overnight without ever visiting the actual lighthouse.

Split Rock lighthouse, photo courtesy Thomas A. Tag

But, since 1905 when it opened atop a cliff more than 100 feet above the surface of the lake, Split Rock Lighthouse has been a literal beacon for navigation and now one of the most recognizable symbols of the state. The lighthouse site is property of the Minnesota Historical Society and requires a separate admission from the park, but is worth the visit for the view and the history.

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Benjamin Prescott Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution visits library, Barcelona (NY) lighthouse

Ms. Marla Connelly, NYS Park Ranger for the Lighthouse and Mr. Jay Bailey Regional Director for NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation honored us with a presentation on plans with insight to preserve and protect the Barcelona Lighthouse followed with a tour of the Lighthouse. The need is great to preserve this Lighthouse so further generations can enjoy it and the exciting history of the people that made the Lake Erie fishing industry.

Barcelona (Portland Harbor) lighthouse, photo courtesy Mike & Carol McKinney

Attendees learned that the lighthouse was the ‘First in the World’ to use natural gas to light the lamp in the tower. It was built in 1829 and the Patterson Chapter of the NSDAR (now merged into the Benjamin Prescott Chapter NSDAR) placed a plaque on the front of the lighthouse above the door in 1929. In 1972 the lighthouse was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

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Summer Staycation ideas on the Outer Banks (NC)

Through the month of July we have been sharing ideas for summer staycations. Today we head to one of the most popular vacation destinations on the East Coast. The Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Currituck lighthouse, photo courtesy Ralph Krugler

If you’re looking for fun ideas outside of a relaxing beach day. Check out one of the many lighthouses like the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in Corolla. “These lighthouses built in the 1800s are beautiful. They have aged so well architecturally, and they were intended to be fabulous” says Meghan Agresto, Site Manager at the Currituck Beach Lighthouse. “We ask almost everybody, have you been here before and so many of them are like, not since I was six and they are here with their kids.”

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National Lighthouse Day – Free Admission Aug. 7 at Concord Point (MD)

Free admission – donations are appreciated.

Concord Point lighthouse, photo courtesy USLHS archives

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Citizens petition feds to rebuild fire-damaged Lightkeeper’s house, Prospect Harbor (ME)

GOULDSBORO — William Kearns hasn’t seen up close the damage to the U.S. Naval Satellite Operations Center in Prospect Harbor. The naval group’s former satellite operations supervisor and later maintenance department chief is afraid to see just how great the destruction was to the 173-year-old lighthouse keeper’s quarters that caught fire June 27. He maintained and kept the classic clapboard cottage in tip-top condition for years.

Prospect Harbor lighthouse, photo courtesy Jeremy D/Entremont

After the fire broke out at daybreak June 27, Kearns says the naval group’s chief of operations phoned him at 7 a.m. as a courtesy call to prevent him suddenly learning about Gull Cottage’s near destruction through the media. The Cherryfield resident eventually did drive down and view the classic white clapboard cottage’s collapsed, blackened second story from afar on the opposite shore of Prospect Harbor.

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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.

If you have items of interest to the lighthouse community and its supporters, please email them to Jeremy D’Entremont at Jeremy@uslhs.org

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