The peninsula known as Cape Blanco, the most westerly point on the coast of Oregon, was named by Spanish explorers because of its high, light-colored cliffs. The reefs around the cape were a hindrance to navigation, leading to the establishment of a lighthouse in 1870. The brick tower, 59 feet tall with its light 256… Continue reading Light Hearted ep 244 – Cape Blanco Lighthouse, Oregon

The Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, is dedicated to showcasing the area’s rich maritime roots. The museum’s exhibits spotlight fishermen, ship captains, skilled craftsmen, inventors, and lighthouse keepers, among others who have contributed much to the area for centuries. Under the same management is the Death’s Door Maritime Museum in Gills Rock,… Continue reading Light Hearted ep 243 – Sam Perlman, Door County Maritime Museum, Wisconsin

Solargraphy – also called solarigraphy – is a niche form of pinhole photography that stretches single exposure images to an extreme exposure length. Relying on homemade cameras, darkroom paper, and a small pinhole instead of a glass lens, solargraphs allow an image to be captured over months or years. The path of the sun and… Continue reading Light Hearted ep 242 – Christian Fiedler: Beacons Through Time; Winner of USLHS dance contest

In addition to their nature cruises, Bar Harbor Whale Watch in Maine runs regular sightseeing cruises that go near several of the local lighthouses. For years, pre-pandemic, the company also ran occasional all-day lighthouse cruises that passed close to as many as 15 or 20 lighthouses. An annual July cruise was known as the Grand… Continue reading Light Hearted ep 241 – Bar Harbor Grand Slam Lighthouse Cruise (ME); Graves Light lens project (MA)

Maine Open Lighthouse Day is a popular annual event that’s sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard, the Maine Office of Tourism, and the American Lighthouse Foundation. It attracts between 15,000 to 18,000 visitors each year and offers the general public the rare opportunity to climb and learn about more than a dozen historic Maine lights.… Continue reading Light Hearted ep 240 – Bob Trapani: Maine Open Lighthouse Day

The Strait of Juan de Fuca is a body of water the Salish Sea’s main outlet to the Pacific Ocean. Clallam Bay, Washington, is an indentation on the south side of the strait, about 30 miles from its mouth. Slip Point is at the east end of Clallam Bay. A fog signal was established at… Continue reading Light Hearted ep 239 – Slip Point, Washington; Lovells Island, Massachusetts

This episode features a wide-ranging conversation between Light Hearted host Jeremy D’Entremont and Jeff Gales, executive director of the U.S. Lighthouse Society (USLHS). Topics include the early history of the USLHS, the Society’s move from San Francisco to Point No Point Light Station in Seattle, the passport program, overnight stays at the Society’s properties and… Continue reading Light Hearted ep 237 – U.S. Lighthouse Society Executive Director Jeff Gales

This episode features two re-edited interviews from past years, Karen Zacharuk and Chris Mills. For more than 15 years, Karen has been the keeper at Cape Beale in British Columbia. Cape Beale is one of 27 lightstations that remain staffed on the coast of British Columbia. As keeper, Karen maintains the navigation equipment and buildings,… Continue reading Light Hearted ep 236 – Canadian light keepers Karen Zacharuk and Chris Mills

Seal Point Lighthouse is on Cape St. Francis in South Africa, close to the southeasternmost point on the continent. At 91 feet tall, it’s the tallest masonry building on the South African coast. Construction began in 1874, and materials had to be hauled by oxcart to the remote location. The light station began service on… Continue reading Light Hearted ep 235 – Paul Duval & Wesley Randles, Seal Point Lighthouse, South Africa