News of the week April 7, 2023
One Outer Banks (NC) lighthouse to open for climbing this spring; another closed for third year
While one Outer Banks lighthouse prepares to open for climbing this tourist season, another will likely remain closed for a third year due to restoration efforts.
The 165-foot Bodie Island Light Station south of Nags Head will be open for climbing from April 26 to Oct. 9, the National Park Service announced this week. But the iconic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton likely will stay closed to climbing for a third season because of an ongoing restoration project.
Click here to read more and see videos
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Temporary Fix Restores Limited Service To Cape Lookout (NC) Lighthouse Dock
The Christmas Eve winter storm of 2022 at Cape Lookout National Seashore caused a fair bit of damage to the ferry dock at Cape Lookout Lighthouse. So much so that the dock was closed to the public, resulting in the ferry dropping passengers between 500 – 1,000 yards away, depending on tides.
The National Park Service has since completed repairs and augmentations allowing for limited use of a portion of the dock. While the largest portion of the dock remains closed due to damage, the National Park Service has completed repairs and augmentations for limited use by the passenger ferry of a small section of the dock which will eliminate the 500-1000 yard walk on the beach.
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Amazing! The Oldest Operating Lighthouse in America is in New Jersey!
America has a rich history along our coastlines and one thing that always shines bright are our fantastic lighthouses here in New Jersey. Our maritime history is especially historical here along the Atlantic Ocean where settlers first arrived as the colonies came together. In New Jersey, we date back to the mid-1660s when the first areas were settled. But what about the oldest lighthouse here in the Garden State?
Before we talk about the oldest operating lighthouse in America, I wanted to share with you how my wife and I stayed in an actual lighthouse overnight for a quick couple of days in New York State. Pictured above is the Saugerties Lighthouse which is situated on the Hudson River. We stayed over at that lighthouse and it was a fantastic very eclectic bed and breakfast!
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The scenic drive to Mission Point Lighthouse (MI) Is Almost As Beautiful As The Destination Itself
Mission Point Lighthouse is located at the end of Old Mission Peninsula which juts out into the Grand Traverse Bay.
The lighthouse is beautiful but first, let’s talk about the gorgeous drive you’ll take to get there.
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2023 Door County (WI) Lighthouse Festival Tickets on Sale
Tickets are now available for the 2023 Door County Lighthouse Festivals, which are set for June 9-11 and Sept. 29 – Oct. 1.
Click here to read more on access to these rarely opened lights!
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The ‘NED’ In Mattapoitett’s NED’S Point Lighthouse
The Ned’s Point Lighthouse on Ned’s Point Road in Mattapoisett was named after a guy named Ned Dexter. That is not exactly a household name around these parts, so who was Ned Dexter, and why is there a historic lighthouse named for him?
More on that in a moment.
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Cape St. George (FL) Lighthouse
The next Forgotten Coast lighthouse is one that collapsed into the Gulf of Mexico in 2005. The citizens of Cape St. George are not ones to rest on their laurels, and by December 1, 2008, the reconstructed lighthouse was open again to the public. They took great care throughout each reconstruction to salvage and use the original materials. Even the lantern room was recast, using the original pieces as patterns.
Originally constructed in 1833, they rebuilt it in 1848 and 1852 on Little St. George Island. This picturesque lighthouse has been hard at work alerting ships to Little St. George Island for over 180 years.
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St. Marks Lighthouse, Florida
In the 1820’s, the town of St. Marks was considered an important port of entry. St. Marks served as a port for the prosperous planting region of Middle Florida and parts of South Georgia. Growers transported their agricultural products to the port town by way of an early road that connected Tallahassee to the town of St. Marks. Later, this road would become the state’s first railroad. Built in 1842, it is still a working lighthouse and is the second-oldest light station in Florida.
If you’re a bird lover, another thing that makes this location unique is the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1931 as a wintering home for migratory birds. It serves as the gateway to the Panhandle Section of the Great Florida Birding Trail, and is a popular spot for viewing over 250 and different species throughout the year.
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Large Waves Crash Into Lighthouse in Lake Michigan
Gusty winds swept southern Michigan on Saturday, April 1, with the National Weather Service issuing a high wind warning.
Video filmed by Nathan Voytovick shows large waves crashing against a lighthouse on Lake Michigan at St Joseph.
Click here to read more and see the video
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Top of lighthouse at Wicklow’s East Pier (Ireland) removed for restoration works
Alarmed locals have been reassured that the top of the lighthouse at Wicklow’s East Pier has only been removed temporarily for restoration works.
The iconic structure was removed last Friday, prompting concern amongst many, who turned to the man who knows the harbour best, Pat Davis, for answers.
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Point Cabrillo Lighthouse (CA) announces tour days!
Climb to the Top of the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse! As you plan your lighthouse adventures for the summer, be sure to make time for a trip up to the top of the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse in Mendocino, California! These tours typically only happen once a month, and are a fun opportunity to learn about Fresnel lenses, watch whales and learn the history of these historic structures.
Join volunteer docents at Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park for the unique opportunity to climb to the top of the lighthouse tower and stand next to the historic 1909 Fresnel Lens.
For more information click here
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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