News of the week March 24, 2023
Cape Hatteras (NC) Lighthouse lens makes a temporary move during museum renovation
The original Cape Hatteras Lighthouse lens is on the move. The roughly 20-foot-tall structure, which is housed within the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras, is painstakingly being taken apart and relocated to a secure and on-site storage area while work progresses on the museum’s total renovation.
Though the prospect of a museum renovation had been floating around for some time, in May 2021, the museum received a $4.1 million grant from the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to conduct an overhaul of the Hatteras village site.
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Fire Island (NY) Lighthouse tower, damaged by storm, probably won’t reopen before summer, official says
It’s likely that needed emergency repairs to the weather-damaged Fire Island Lighthouse will now impact at least part of the summer tourist season, but officials are hopeful that alternative programing — including a virtual tour of the now-closed 168-foot lighthouse tower — will help stem the tide.
Click here to read more (Subscription required)
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Sanibel Museum will feature Sanibel Lighthouse (FL) Hurricane Ian exhibit at reopening
SANIBEL ISLAND, Fla. — The Sanibel Historic Museum will reopen on March 28, six months since Hurricane Ian.
To embrace the day that changed our lives, the museum is adding a Sanibel Lighthouse exhibit to its site.
Click here to read more & see video
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Buffalo Lighthouse (NY) among Greenway fund recipients
Six awards totaling $1.9 million were given out by the Buffalo and Erie County Greenway Fund Standing Committee last week for beautification and improvement projects.
• The Buffalo Lighthouse Association, which received $247,236 for a safety and access project.
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St. Marks (FL) on the hunt for next lighthouse keeper
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Restoration work continues on Rock of Ages (MI) Lighthouse this summer
Standing 137 feet tall, the remote Rock of Ages Lighthouse at Isle Royale has provided navigational aid for ships and fishermen for over 100 years.
The historic lighthouse, located 22 miles from the Minnesota shoreline, was built in 1908 and last staffed by a lightkeeper in 1978. It has fallen into disrepair throughout the years, particularly following the transition to an automated lighthouse in the late 1970s.
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Celebrate Florida Heritage Day at the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and Museum
In case you haven’t noticed, Florida is a huge state with a lot of history to explore. You won’t have to travel far to find a great place and an opportunity to do so from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 25, when the National Historic Landmark Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and Museum invites all to enjoy a day of historical remembrance and celebration of Florida.
The lighthouse staff and its docents, as well as representatives from eleven other historical organizations and museums from across central Florida, will offer speakers, hands-on workshops, presentations and children’s take-home crafts to observe, highlight and commemorate the day. It’s all included with regular admission to the lighthouse.
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Cape Blanco (OR) Lighthouse opening May 1
The Cape Blanco Lighthouse will open on May 1 2023 this year instead of its traditional opening day of April 1.
This decision was reached by the board members of the Cape Blanco Heritage Society (CBHS) due to problems related to the short road from the lighthouse gate to the lighthouse.
This road has experienced considerable damage over time and the seasonal rains and unusual snowfall of this Winter has taken additional toll on the road. The damage has led to the closure of the road to all vehicles, including visitors, staff and volunteers.
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Happisburgh Lighthouse (UK) open days 2023: Volunteers needed
It is literally one of Norfolk’s ‘highlights’.
And now volunteers are needed for a series of planned open days at Happisburgh Lighthouse.
The lighthouse trust has openings for roles including welcoming visitors, staffing the gift shop, and guiding tours up the 112 steps to the lantern room.
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‘Haunted and iconic’ South Stack lighthouse (Wales) known as a supernatural hotspot
An Anglesey lighthouse is said to be among Wales’ most haunted spots. South Stack lighthouse, north-west of Holyhead, has earned a reputation as a supernatural hotspot following reports of paranormal experiences dating back centuries.
The remote tower on Holy Island has attracted thousands of visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of its otherworldly inhabitants.
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Covesea lighthouse (Scotland) set to be lit up to raise awareness of epilepsy
COVESEA Lighthouse is set to be lit up purple to help raise awareness of epilepsy for Purple Day.
The lighthouse in Lossiemouth will be lit up on Sunday, March 26.
Purple Day was founded in Canada by nine-year-old Cassidy Megan in 2008 and is aimed at getting people to talk about epilepsy and dispel the myths attached to the condition.
More than 40 buildings and landmarks across Scotland will be lit up purple on the day.
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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