Things are fairly quiet as 2019 dawns on the lighthouse world, but there are some things to report. In November, we reported that the refurbishing of the first-order Fresnel lens from the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse in California was about to begin. The lens has been on display for years in a glass enclosure in Cambria,… Continue reading Lighthouse News of the Week
Kate Walker here, keeping the light on Robbins Reef. If I don’t write English too good, you’re probably wondering how I write these blog posts. Voice recognition software. It’s wonderful. I just say what I want to and the computer records it. Then my son Jacob goes through what I’ve said and straightens out my… Continue reading Kate’s Corner #27
On Tuesday, December 18, we lost one of the world’s great lighthouse photographers with the death of John Eagle. He was the first person to make a postcard of every Irish lighthouse, traveling by helicopter and high-speed boat to capture his images. John passed away at the age of 64 at his home on the… Continue reading Lighthouse News of the Week
Two of the big lighthouse stories of the past week involve first-order Fresnel lenses, the true “jewels” of the lighthouses. Kurt Fosburg, one of a small number of lampists in the United States who is qualified to work on classical lenses, has completed a restoration of the magnificent lens at Pensacola Lighthouse in Florida. The… Continue reading Lighthouse News of the Week
Kate Walker here, keeping the light on Robbins Reef. It may surprise you to know that I spent part of every day on paperwork. John taught me how to keep the records and make the reports, but after he died, I relied on my son Jacob to put my words onto the report forms because… Continue reading Kate’s Corner #26
We’ll be introducing some new features here soon, set to a more regular schedule. We’ll be posting original content on Wednesdays, including “Kate’s Corner,” “Kaptain’s Kolumn,” and more. There will be a weekly roundup of the week’s lighthouse news on Fridays. And watch for the introduction of a new U.S. Lighthouse Society podcast by early… Continue reading New features coming in the New Year!
Lighthouses are not only important historical structures representing our maritime heritage, they are also architectural wonders. Located in stunning picturesque locations, they are inspirational in nature and are often lovingly memorialized by all kinds of artists including writers, photographers, and film makers. Simply “being” at a lighthouse and enjoying its surrounding property is a deeply… Continue reading U.S. Lighthouse Society 2019 Calendar – This Calendar Supports Lighthouses!
Tawas Point State Park is located on the shores of Lake Huron, 2.5 miles southeast of East Tawas in Iosco County, Michigan. The most iconic feature of the park is the Victorian‐era Tawas Point Lighthouse. The Tawas Point Lighthouse Keeper Program provides participants the privilege of living at one of Michigan’s most notable lighthouses, and… Continue reading Tawas Point Lighthouse Keeper Program is accepting applicants for 2019
New Jersey’s historic East Point Lighthouse on Delaware Bay is severely threatened by erosion. A recent storm breeched the dune system that protected it, making the situation even more dire. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has come up with a creative solution: the placement of a 900-foot-long “Geotube,” made of synthetic material and filled… Continue reading The State of New Jersey proposes placing a “Geotube” to save East Point Lighthouse
On November 30, 1818 — 200 years ago yesterday — the whale oil lamp in the original Macquarie Lighthouse, south of the entrance to the harbor of Sydney, Australia, was lighted for the first time. The original tower was completed in 1818 by convict Francis Greenway, who earned a pardon for his work. The original… Continue reading Australia’s first light station celebrates its 200th anniversary
