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Lighthouse News of the Week

News of the week May 5, 2023

‘The legend lives on’: Rare lighting of Split Rock (MN) draws Lighthouse and Lightfoot fans to the North Shore

The historic site’s beacon was lit for two hours on Wednesday night in honor of Gordon Lightfoot, whose shipwreck ballad resonate with visitors.  

Split Rock, MN – Ralph Eshelman

LAKE COUNTY, Minn. — The invitation to see Split Rock Lighthouse’s beacon lit — a rarity for the long decommissioned tourist attraction — was appealing enough to lure two St. Paul area hiking buddies to the North Shore on Wednesday night.

Emilio Rescigno and Elizabeth Germscheid made the more than 3 hour drive after seeing an Instagram reel about how the lighthouse keepers planned to honor the late Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot, whose song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” is a fan-favorite for lighthouse visitors. The lighting, which usually happens just a few times a year — including on the Nov. 10 anniversary of the shipwreck — lasted two hours.

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Return of Clear Lake lighthouse (TX – faux lighthouse) landmark unclear

The iconic lighthouse that once stood on Clear Lake’s shores in League City is completely gone, and it’s unclear when or if it will return.

South Shore Harbor (faux), TX – BFS Man

The metal panels that made up the 120-foot-tall landmark were removed about a year ago due to extensive corrosion that made the structure unsafe. The remaining pole that made up the core of the structure was finally removed earlier this year, officials said.

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Lorain Lighthouse (OH) seeks votes as ‘Best of Lake Erie’

May 3 – The Lorain Lighthouse Foundation Inc. hopes area residents will cast a ballot for the Jewel of the Port Lorain Lighthouse as Best Lighthouse on Lake Erie according to a news release.

Lorain West Breakwater, OH – USLHS archives

The contest of the “Best of Lake Erie” for many locations is sponsored by Lake Erie Living Magazine, the release said

Click here to read more

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Critical missing date from Ocracoke Lighthouse (NC) history discovered by local islander

As Ocracoke Island and the National Park Service prepare to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the island’s most famous site, one startling mystery remains: when exactly in 1823 was the lamp at its top first lit? (It’s actually a trick question; read on for the answer!)

Ocracoke, NC – David Zapatka

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse has a month, day, and year, (December 16, 1870), Bodie Island Lighthouse has a month, day, and year, (October 1, 1872), Currituck Beach Lighthouse has a month, day, and year, (December 1, 1875), but Ocracoke? Our Ocracoke is an orphan, seemingly destined to celebrate its birthday at an unofficial date.

Click here to find the answer!

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Mother’s Day flower sale at Absecon Lighthouse (NJ), plus free lighthouse climbs

In preparation for Mother’s Day, purchase a hydrangea plant this weekend at the Absecon Lighthouse, located at 31 S. Rhode Island Ave., Atlantic City.

Absecon, NJ – J Candace Clifford

Stop by the lighthouse from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 6-7 and again May 13 to purchase the plant known for producing large, colorful flowers. The plant sale is hosted by Hydrangea Trail 2.0, a nonprofit that seeks to create a walk-through hydrangea trail in the area.

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Popular Irish Kerry lighthouse should be promoted for tourism – ‘It’s a loss for us if we don’t’

Make more use of Fenit lighthouse as a tourism icon is the strong message from Fine Gael Cllr Aoife Thornton.

Little Samphire Island, Ireland – Den Donovan

The North Kerry representative made the demand at last week’s full meeting of Kerry County Council (KCC), claiming that the lighthouse is one of the most historic and underutilised attractions in Tralee Bay.

Click here to read more

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The 20 Most Beautiful Lighthouses across the United States

No matter where you travel in the US, be it through the country’s coastal regions or along the shores of the Great Lakes, you’ll encounter stunning lighthouses which have captured the imagination of sailors and landlubbers alike for generations.

No matter where you travel in the US, be it through the country’s coastal regions or along the shores of the Great Lakes, you’ll encounter stunning lighthouses which have captured the imagination of sailors and landlubbers alike for generations. From the rugged coasts of Maine, to the sun-drenched shores of Florida, to the remote wilderness of Alaska, America’s lighthouses shine a light on a rich maritime history, the artistic and architectural inspiration behind them, and some of the most breath-taking natural scenery the nation has to offer.

Click here to see their top 20 list

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10 lighthouses you can rent for your next vacation

If you’re looking for something different on your next vacation, why not stay in a lighthouse? With amazing water views, unique interior spaces and often very private locales, lighthouse lodging will make for a memorial trip. There’s just something romantic and dramatic about these towers by the sea.

East Brother, CA – Chad Kaiser

Here are some lighthouses with keepers’ residences that you can book a stay in:

Click here for the list

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At long last, NAS Pensacola restoring public access 7 days a week

After being opened only intermittently to the public since a 2019 terror attack, Naval Air Station Pensacola isscheduled to allow seven-day access to areas of public interest on the installation beginning May 17.

As part of a phased reopening, previously scheduled public visitation will remain May 4-7 and May 11-14.

Pensacola, FL – Brian Margavich

While on the installation, the public will be able to visit the Pensacola Lighthouse, Fort Barrancas and the National Naval Aviation Museum. Access to Barrancas National Cemetery is always available through the Visitor Control Center at the Main Gate to anyone with family interred at the cemetery.

Click here to read more

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Kenosha’s Southport Lighthouse (WI) open for summer season

KENOSHA — The Southport Light Station Museum, 5117 Fourth Ave., is open for the season, offering tours and climbs through Oct. 29.

Southport, WI – USLHS archives

Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Click here to read more

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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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