Lighthouse Musings

Chesapeake Bay Lighthouses

2011-06-24T07:19:00.000-05:00

There are three distinct styles to the Chesapeake Bay lighthouses. In June of 2011 I was able to visit several of the Maryland lighthouses along Chesapeake Bay. I was thrilled to be able to visit all three types of lighthouses and to climb up into two of them.
The style photographed above is the screw-pile style of lighthouse. This lighthouse was constructed of a iron screw-pile formation to help stabilize it in the sandy and muddy bottom to the Chesapeake Bay. A cottage style house was then built on top of the foundation and the lantern house on top of the cottage. I was able to visit two of these screw-pile lighthouses and climb up into both of them. They are both currently located in marine museums that are open to the public.
The lighthouse pictured above is the Hooper Strait lighthouse that can be found in the marine museum in St. Michaels, Maryland. It now sits on the edge of the harbor and is a wonderful experience for visitors who can climb into the lighthouse and see how the keepers of years gone by lived and worked. On the first floor was the keepers living quarters. There I found a living room, dining area, work area, and a bedroom. On the second floor was another workroom and a second bedroom area. Climbing a third flight of stairs led me to the lantern room depicted in the photo below.

The second screw-pile lighthouse that I visited was in Solomons, Maryland. It is the Drum Point lighthouse and you can read more about it at Drum Point Lighthouse.
The other two types of lighthouses that I visited were the conical tower type of lighthouse and the cupola style of lighthouse. Both of these are depicted in this article Chesapeake Lighthouses and on the postcard depicted below.

Maryland Lighthouses by lighthouseenthusiast
More Maryland Postcards

Lighthouse Photography

2011-04-26T09:40:00.000-05:00

Photographing lighthouses can be vastly rewarding but it is not without challenges. First of all lighthouses can sometimes be rather hard to find. They are often out of the way along roads that are not very well marked. Some lighthouses are only accessible by water so taking a boat is the best way to get the photographs.
Other lighthouses may be inland but are surrounded by houses and power lines, making it hard to get just the right photo.

Despite these challenges, I love photographing lighthouses. In the past 4 years I have photographed nearly 40 lighthouses and my plans are to add a few more to my collection this year. On my Squidoo page, Lighthouse Photography I talk about some of my favorite lighthouse photos and why I chose the angle and lighting for each particular shot.

In this photo of St. Augustine Lighthouse, I took my tripod to capture the image at night. The lighthouse is surrounded by buildings and trees, so I went to a nearby park and found an angle where I could get a closeup of the light with beam shining into the night.

Peggy's Cove Lighthouse, Nova Scotia

2010-11-05T09:50:00.001-05:00

   I had read that Peggy's Cove lighthouse is the most photographed lighthouse in Canada, so I was really excited when I found that an excursion to Peggy's Cove was one of the choices on our fall cruise. Peggy's Cove is located in Nova Scotia just 35 miles from the port at Halifax.
   On the day we arrived in Peggy's Cove the weather was perfect for photographing. There was a beautiful blue sky with just a few puffy white clouds which made a perfect backdrop for the lighthouse photos.
   Peggy's Cove lighthouse is an octagonal lighthouse of reinforced concreted that is painted red and white. It is very striking against the bare granite boulders that are everywhere in this region. The current lighthouse was built in 1914 and stands 50 feet high.

The lighthouse is located in the small fishing village of Peggy's Cove. The village itself is often photographed and is very picturesque. The photo above is shot from a wooden bridge across the roadway.
I have written a page on my visit to Peggy's Cove and I hope you will stop by for a visit at Peggy's Cove On this page I share several of my photographs.

Our cruise also had a stop in Quebec City and I found it to be a wonderful city to tour and photograph. You may read more about it here at Quebec City.

I hope to someday return to Nova Scotia and take more photographs. When I was on the tour bus I kept seeing wonderful little coves and lots of lighthouses. I would have loved to be able to stop and take more photographs, a moving bus makes it hard to get good photos.

Faux Lighthouse Celebrates Flood Recovery

2010-09-26T19:05:00.000-05:00

Grafton, Illinois is a wonderful river town located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. It is only a short drive up the Great River Road from St. Louis. On a beautiful September afternoon we took the drive from St. Louis to Grafton. I had heard there was a lighthouse at the port of Grafton and I was anxious to photograph it.

The lighthouse, as I found out, is not a working lighthouse but rather a faux lighthouse that was dedicated in 2007 to celebrate Grafton's recovery from the great flood of 1993. The lighthouse is quite picturesque and I was able to photograph it from several angles. While in Grafton we discovered it was a delightful river town with lots of activities to fill a late summer afternoon. We had a nice lunch at the Marina and were able to watch the Grafton ferry as it made it's way across the river to St.Charles county in Missouri.

We also found several wineries in Grafton and beautiful scenery at nearby Pere Marquette Park. For more of my photos from our visit stop by my lens at Grafton, Illinois.

Maryland Lighthouses

2010-09-14T11:30:00.000-05:00

The lighthouses along the eastern coast of the US have always intrigued me. I have seen many of the mid Atlantic and southern lighthouses but have only seen a few of the ones on the northeastern coast. I hope to visit several this fall and will bring you some of my photographs then, but in the meantime, I received this great article from the Maryland Board of Tourism that I thought I would share with my readers.

I showed the article to my husband and he said "Looks like our next road trip". Well we do have plans for this fall, but maybe next spring I will make it there. It looks like there are lots of great lighthouses to visit...the one at Concord Point is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in Maryland.

Thanks to the Maryland Tourism board for this great article.

Maryland lighthouses shine

on Chesapeake Bay destinations

19th-century structures retain historical, architectural appeal

BALTIMORE ( Sept. 10 ) – Follow the lighthouses. Explore the Chesapeake Bay and the towns and attractions that line its shores, says Maryland's Office of Tourism, and you'll discover authentic Maryland experiences along the way.

Tourism officials have designated September as a time to focus on the two-dozen lighthouses in Maryland, making them the theme of its Maryland Spotlight campaign – a monthly promotion that highlights distinctive aspects of tourism in the state.

"Our lighthouses have cultural, historical and architectural value," says Gov. Martin O'Malley. "These 'beacons on the bay' are iconic structures that reflect Maryland's maritime heritage while evoking a storied past."

The first lighthouse in Maryland was erected in 1822, and the last in 1910. Most of the 44 lighthouses built in that span were constructed from the mid- to late 1800s. Early on, lighthouses were land-based, usually stone or brick towers. Concord, Cove Point, Poole's Island and Piney Point are some examples. Dwellings for lightkeepers were built near each light. John Donahoo, a Havre de Grace businessman who held public office, was Maryland's prolific lighthouse builder at this time. He built a dozen of these masonry towers, including the ones just mentioned.

Screw-pile lighthouses came later. They tended to be multi-room, hexagonal structures or cottages that sat atop wrought-iron piles screwed into the bottom of the bay. A lantern was placed above each of these structures. Only four of screw-pile lights have survived the rigors of the bay:Drum Point, Hooper Strait, Seven Foot Knoll and Thomas Point Shoal.

By the 1870s, lighthouses were built with caissons, cylindrical bases sunk deeply into the bottom of the bay and filled with concrete. A tower or cupola would be placed atop the caisson. TheCraighill Channel Range Front Light was the first caisson-style light built in the U.S. Among the surviving caisson lights on the bay are: Bloody Point Bar, Sharps Island and Solomons Lump.

After 1910, automated lights began to phase out the necessity for lighthouse keepers. The Coast Guard, starting in the 1960s, dismantled many of the lighthouses and replaced them with small, automatic beacons.

"The lighthouses that still stand – some completely restored with period décor and exhibits – are unique artifacts of a different era," says Margot Amelia, executive director of the Maryland Office of Tourism. "They have a certain mystique to travelers. Some you can visit in person. Others you can view from the water when you take a charter-boat lighthouse tour."

Amelia also says: "Lighthouses present opportunities for getting to know the diverse nature of destinations along the bay – even in the same area." Lighthouse locations in Southern Maryland, for instance, have varied elements of appeal. Blackistone Light is on St. Clement's Island, immersed in history, in St. Mary's County – where English settlers first landed 376 years ago aboard the Ark and the Dove . Cove Point Light, at the southern tip of the Calvert County peninsula, is a natural starting or ending point for the county's Patuxent Wine Trail.

Many of Maryland's lighthouses are associated with the Chesapeake Bay Getways Network, which connects the bay and its rivers and more than 160 parks, museums, communities and trails with residents and visitors to this region.

Here is a sampling of more Maryland lighthouses:

Concord Point Light, Havre de Grace (Harford County) – Located at one end of a waterfront promenade overlooking the juncture of the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay, this is the oldest Maryland lighthouse open to the public. It's the second oldest in Maryland, built in 1827, and similar in construction to the 1825 lighthouse at Pooles Island, which is off-limits. Both are granite towers (painted white) with mahogany doors. The restored keeper's dwelling is 200 feet from the lighthouse. The first keeper was John O'Neill, a local War of 1812 hero. Havre de Grace Maritime Museum and Havre de Grace Decoy Museum are nearby.
Drum Point Light, Solomons (Calvert County) – This completely restored lighthouse, in operation from 1883 to 1962, is part of the Calvert Marine Museum . Drum Point is a 1.5-story white, hexagonal screw-pile cottage. When built, it had a light that could be seen for 11 nautical miles and a 1,400-pound fog bell. It originally stood in 10 feet of water at the northern approach to the Patuxent River. By 1900, the water level depth reduced to three feet. Drum Point stood on dry land by the time it was decommissioned. The museum offers regular tours of the lighthouse.
Hooper Strait Light, St. Michael's (Talbot County) – Now part of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum overlooking the Miles River, this screw-pile lighthouse was headed for demolition in 1966 when the museum interceded. The lighthouse, which includes a hexagonal dwelling, was built in 1879. It was installed at Hooper Strait, a passageway connecting the Chesapeake Bay and Tangier Sound, about 40 miles south of its present location. Groups can spend a night at the lighthouse and experience the lifestyle and duties of a 19th-century lighthouse keeper.
Seven Foot Knoll Light, Inner Harbor, Baltimore – Built in 1855 from prefabricated parts, this screw-pile lighthouse was installed at the mouth of the Patapsco River. The original octagonal structure was upgraded in or around 1875 with a round dwelling unit, 40 feet in diameter, encircled by a gallery deck. A number of lighthouse keepers lived here with their families during the 133 years that it was manned. After a simple steel tower replaced the lighthouse in the 1980s, Baltimore City acquired the lighthouse and restored it with interior exhibits. Seven Foot Knoll is now part of Historic Ships in Baltimore's maritime collection.
Thomas Point Shoal Light, near Annapolis (Anne Arundel County) – This Maryland icon, one of the most recognized lights along the Chesapeake Bay, is also one of only 10 lighthouses in the U.S. to be designated a National Historic Landmark. Tours of Thomas Point depart from the Annapolis Maritime Museum. The hexagonal, screw-pile structure, built in 1875, stands just north of the South River, south of Annapolis – the sole screw-pile light on the bay still in its original location. It was built to withstand the fields of moving ice that had severely damaged other screw-pile lights on the bay. The first two lighthouses at Thomas Point were on-shore towers that succumbed to erosion.

For more information about lighthouses in Maryland, visit the U.S. Lighthouse Society's Chesapeake Chapter online or the Chesapeake Bay Getways Network.

Monthly themes

In August, the tourism office highlighted opportunities for outdoor adventure in Maryland. Previous themes have focused on: buying local; prominent gardens; bed and breakfasts; Maryland's Main Streets; Chesapeake Bay art; hiking and biking trails; and Maryland wine.

To receive free Maryland travel information - Destination Maryland, Maryland Calendar of Eventsand a state highway map - by mail, call 800-719-5900. Information can also be found on the Tourism Office's web site, VisitMaryland.org.

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Washington State Beacons

2010-09-09T07:38:00.000-05:00

Hello and thanks, Mary Beth, for having me back as part of my September blog tour! Last time I was here I brought photos of some California lighthouses to share. I've just returned from a visit to Washington State, where I visited some more wonderful beacons.
The first day out, my brother and I drove from his home in Port Townsend to the town of Sequim. Here, we took various roads north to find the way out to New Dungeness Lighthouse. It was chilly and blustery, and neither of us was really up to the 5 mile walk out on the spit so we stood and stared at the small white spot. Here is a photo my brother took, so you can see how far it is out there. Maybe next time I'll make the trek! Optionally, I understand you can kayak out there as part of an organized group.

From there we went to Marrowstone Island, just across the water from Port Townsend, and hunted down the lighthouse there. Marrowstone Light was nothing like we expected; we came away calling it "the Night Light" due to its less-than-stellar bulb. But it was in a lovely beach setting and we enjoyed the walk. Here is the light and the keeper's house, now part of Fort Flagler State Park.

On the last day of my visit, we detoured through Hansville on the way to the airport and found the not-so-well-marked Point No Point Lighthouse. This is a real beauty! Still installed is the 4^th order Fresnel lens. Not open on the day we visited, but the U.S. Lighthouse Society maintains an office inside one-half of the keeper's dwelling and they were delightful folks who love lighthouse seekers (of course.) This little beacon, the oldest in Puget Sound, is in excellent condition, well worth the drive over Kitsap Peninsula. By the way, you can rent the other half of the dwelling!

Point Wilson Lighthouse is located right in Port Townsend (and sometimes mistakenly called Port Townsend Lighthouse.) It's a classic tower and still in active operation. It wasn't open during the days I was in town, so will try again next time.
For fun, here is a shot of a Washington State Lighthouse vanity license plate. If we had these in California, I'd surely have one!

~~~
Reminder: To celebrate the release of CAPE SEDUCTION, I'm holding a contest! All you have to do is read the CAPE SEDUCTION excerpt and leave me a relative comment--you'll be in the drawing for FIVE Echelon Press eBooks of your choice, downloaded onto a really cool 2GB flash drive! (Or a $25 gift card to B&N, your choice.) Drawing will be on my last blog tour stop, which is tomorrow, 9/10/10. See schedule at my website!
Pam Ripling, who also writes as Anne Carter, is a self-proclaimed Lighthouse Nut and the author of Beacon Street Mysteries CAPE SEDUCTION and POINT SURRENDER, in paperback or for your Kindle; also for your nook, iPhone, Sony eReader and other formats at Omnilit. Visit Pam/Anne at Beacon Street Books.

Climbing a Lighthouse

2010-09-02T11:12:00.000-05:00

I have always been fascinated by lighthouses and have photographed over 30 in the past four years, but I had never climbed all the way to the top of the lighthouse.

During a trip to Beaufort, South Carolina we decided to take a side trip to Hunting Island to see the lighthouse at Hunting Island State Park. I was with friends who decided to climb the lighthouse and I decided this was my chance, I would overcome my fear and make the climb.

I found the lighthouse at Hunting Island to be rather easy to climb. Although it had 167 steps, they were made of sturdy iron with a really good railing. There was also a landing after each 19 steps so I could easily catch my breath before proceeding. I was doing really well till I got to the very last steps. At these last steps the railing stopped for the last few steps and I panicked momentarily. I think I held my breath, gripped the wall and pushed myself up the last steps. Now I was at the top landing before going out on the gallery.

The gallery of the lighthouse is a railed in area surrounding the light that the lighthouse keeper used when cleaning the outside of the light. For visitors it is a wonderful way to see the view from the lighthouse. One of my friends walked out into the gallery and I decided I would follow, but just a few steps. However, after seeing I could make it that far, I gained my courage and proceeded around the entire area of the lighthouse. I even stopped to take photographs in each direction. The view was breathtaking. I felt very proud of myself, and next time I visit a lighthouse where it is possible to climb, I'm sure I'll make the climb again!

Stop by and see photos of my climb at Hunting Island Lighthouse

.View from the top of the lighthouse facing north.

Hunting Island Lighthouse by lighthouseenthusiast

National Lighthouse Day- guest blogger

2010-08-08T14:43:00.000-05:00

In honor of National Lighthouse Day- August 7th, I am honored to have an article by Pam Ripling a self pro-claimed Lighthouse Nut and the author of two wonderful lighthouse mysteries. Pam writes about west coast lighthouses and I am sure you will enjoy hearing about these lighthouses that she has visited and viewing her photographs.

Thank you Pam for your article and I look forward to having you as a frequent guest blogger!

West Coast Sentinels

by Pam Ripling

No one can dispute that the East and West Coasts vary greatly in their terrain. Overall, it would be safe to say the West has an edge on rocky cliffs, while the East flattens out nicely in more areas. Still, both shores warrant protection!

I've yet to visit the lovely, silent sentinels of the East; I'm still making my way through the
beautiful beacons here on the Pacific coast. Here are a few I'd like to share with you.

Pt. Vicente Lighthouse

Certainly one of the more architecturally classic, this tall, white piece of chalk is visitor friendly and easy to access—but only on the second Saturday of the month. Guarding the Palos
Verdes Peninsula from the northern end of the Catalina Channel, this stately tower is still an
active aid to navigation and is operated by the United States Coast Guard. Admission is free,
and yes, you can go up the spiraling steps, although the actual lantern is chained off at the
very top. (And if you know how much it costs to repair a Fresnel lens, you'll understand why!)

The grounds are well maintained, and the Coast Guard personnel are friendly. Photo opps
abound. For more information, visit their site: http://www.palosverdes.com/pvlight/.

Battery Point Lighthouse

This is a delightful "little" lighthouse located in Crescent City, California. Big on tourist attention, the volunteer "keepers" give tours of this light station built right into the center of the home. The lighthouse sits on a tiny islet at the northernmost point of the harbor, and is water-locked during high tide. This requires visitors to pay attention to the tidal charts or risk being stranded!

Here, you can follow docents all the way up into the lantern room and experience the vastness
of the Pacific Ocean around you. There is a fabulous story of the then-lighthouse keepers'
experience the night a tsunami struck Crescent City in 1964. You can read their amazing tale at
Lighthouse Friends. Leave time to peruse their wonderful gift & book shop, just inside the front door. (I didn't have nearly enough time, because the tide was coming in!)

Pt. Cabrillo Lighthouse

Sitting alone just north of Mendocino, California, Point Cabrillo is another charming house-
based light. Just off Highway 1, the parking is easy to access but from there you must walk
probably ¾ mile to the actual site. The tower was chained off when I was there, but they have
a great little gift shop and museum. This is also an active lighthouse, owned by the California

State Coastal Conservancy.

Also on the grounds are the Head Lighthouse Keeper's house and cottages for rent. Lovely
buildings, inside and out. More at Point Cabrillo.Org!

Next time I visit, I'll be talking about a pair of truly unique, off-shore California lighthouses!

Pam Ripling, who also writes as Anne Carter, is a self-proclaimed Lighthouse Nut and the
author of Beacon Street Mysteries
CAPE SEDUCTION and POINT
SURRENDER, also for your nook, iPhone, Sony eReader
and other formats at Omnilit.
Visit Pam/Anne at Beacon
Street Books.

Decorating with Lighthouses

2010-07-21T10:01:00.000-05:00

Lighthouse decor has become very popular. Some people are fortunate to live by the sea and will decorate their entire house with lighthouses. Others of us live far from the sea, but want to bring those memories of a coastal vacation home and we might decorate a room or two with some lighthouse decor or perhaps put some lighthouse decorations in our gardens.

I have several lenses written with ideas for lighthouse decor. Lighthouse Kitchen Decor is one of my most popular articles. It has a wide variety of items to add to you lighthouse kitchen. You will find cheerful teapots, lighthouse kitchen towels, lighthouse clocks, salt and pepper shakers, and even a lighthouse sink stop. Stop by and look at the ideas for decorating your kitchen.

With the popularity of Lighthouse Kitchen Decor, I decided to do a similar lens for baths. Lighthouse Bathroom is full of great ideas to decorate your bath with lighthouses. You will find some wonderful shower curtains, shower hooks, towels, photos for the wall and many more bath accessories. I hope you will visit soon.

For ideas for lighthouses for your garden go to Lighthouse for your Garden where you will find wonderful items like a solar powered lighthouse replica and lighthouse welcome mats and signs. The cover photo shows the lighthouse replica in my garden.

Whatever you choose...enjoy your lighthouse decor and memories of a day at the sea!

Photo is Cape Florida lighthouse on Key Biscayne, Florida.

Cape Florida Lighthouse

2010-03-04T09:28:00.000-06:00

I thoroughly enjoyed my photographic session at Cape Florida lighthouse. This lighthouse is located at the southern tip of Key Biscayne, Florida and is very accessible to the public. I was able to capture it from the beach and from the lighthouse grounds.

The lighthouse and keepers house are both open to the public and I enjoyed my tour of both. It is a very interesting and historic lighthouse. You can read more about the lighthouse at my lens http://www.squidoo.com/cape-florida-lighthouse

Lighthouse Enthusiast Headquarters

2009-11-23T07:54:00.000-06:00

Are you looking for a place to find everything about lighthouses on Squidoo? The newly revamped Lighthouse Headquarters group has lighthouse lenses from a variety of Squidoo lensmasters.

You will find lighthouses on both coasts of the US, lighthouses on the great lakes and some lighthouses on the shores of other countries.

There are also a wide variety of lenses on lighthouse gifts and decor, as well as some interesting lighthouse lore.

Stop by for a visit and leave us a note, we'd love to hear from you.

http://www.squidoo.com/groups/lighthouses

Lighthouse Calendars

2009-10-20T16:39:00.000-05:00

2010 is quickly approaching and the time to choose calendars for the coming year is at hand. If you are a lighthouse enthusiast or if you have a lighthouse enthusiast on your gift list, I have some fantastic calendars for you to choose from. Go to Lighthouse Calendars and you will find a wide array of 2010 lighthouse calendars. Choose from a handy pocket calendar, a kitchen towel calendar or standard wall calendars.

Read the Latest Lighthouse News

2009-10-15T08:50:00.000-05:00

This email newsletter is filled with the latest news on lighthouses in the USA. A recent article tells the sad story of vandalism at the Holland Lighthouse in Michigan. They have not caught the vandals, who they believe to be juveniles, but they now have several clues. There were thousands of dollars of damage to the lighthouse including paint dumped over the stairs and a light broken.

Stop by the link below to find more on this and other stories.

Email Newsletter

Inside a Lighthouse

2009-09-18T07:38:00.000-05:00

Have you ever been inside a lighthouse? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to climb to the top?

When I visited Currituck Lighthouse in August I was able to go into the lighthouse and takes some photographs. On my lens I give you a pictorial view where you will be able to see the inside of the lighthouse. I show photos of the lighthouse grounds, the entrance and display on the first landing and best of all you can look up the winding spiral staircase inside the lighthouse.

Please join me on my tour of Currituck Lighthouse

Lighthouse Enthusiast Lensmaster of the Month

2009-09-04T07:12:00.000-05:00

Stop by Lighthouse Enthusiast to see our featured lensmaster- Heather Burns. Heather and her husband Richard are very interested in lighthouses.
Here are comments from Heather on her interest in lighthouses.

I think the best way to describe our fascination with lighthouses is what I wrote on one of our lighthouse lenses: ...worldwide they symbolize Hope to sea navigators. In a storm they are the beacon guiding sailors home to a safe shore, in the dark, a bright light in the darkness, in the daylight, a tall beacon marking safety...to all they say Welcome...you are almost home. What a comforting thought!

Plus they are anciently designed architectural wonders. They must withstand the rigors of sea water, sea air, storms and waves. And they must be the exact size to accommodate the lanterns themselves. Even though we don't actually need them any more, they remind us of the time long ago when maritime activity depended on them. In short they are a link to our past. Rich and I like that reminder.

Lighthouse Christmas Ornaments

2009-09-03T10:46:00.000-05:00

I love lighthouses and I love Christmas ornaments so writing a lens on Lighthouse Christmas Ornaments was a natural for me. I hope you enjoy the selection that I've picked for you.

photo from Creative Commons -photographer ronnie44052

Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse

2009-08-31T07:45:00.001-05:00

While visiting the Outer Banks, we made a trip over to Roanoke Island. Here we found a wonderful replica of the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse. The original lighthouse was a screw-pile cottage style light that stood in the bay on the southern edge of the island. It fell into the Sound when it was being moved and in 2004 the Town of Manteo dedicated a replica of the lighthouse.

This replica sits on the end of the pier on the waterfront in Manteo. Inside the lighthouse are exhibits on the old lighthouse and educational information on lighthouses. It was definately a worthwhile visit. You can read more about my visit and view my photographs at squidoo.com/roanoke-island

Cape Hatteras "America's Lighthouse"

2009-08-27T07:39:00.001-05:00

Did you know that the lighthouses of the Outer Banks are each painted a different design so that the ships could easily tell where they were in relation to the coast? In the 1800's when these lighthouses were built they didn't have the navigational guides that are available today, designing each lighthouse differently was a great aid to the mariners.

Cape Hatteras lighthouse was painted in a black and white spiraled design. Read more about Cape Hatteras at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Ocracoke Island Lighthouse

2009-08-22T18:13:00.000-05:00

Ocracoke Lighthouse

Ocracoke Island is a wonderful place to visit. It has a beautiful lighthouse, which is one of the oldest working lighthouses in North Carolina. In addition, it is a wonderful quaint small town with great little shops and restaurants and some of the best beaches in America. In fact in 2007, it was named America's #1 Beach !

In this lens Ocracoke Island , I take you on a pictorial view of the island. Enjoy!

Lighthouse Lensography

2009-07-27T11:59:00.000-05:00

Here is a lens that talks about my interest in lighthouses and gives a listing of all of the lenses that I have written on lighthouses. Do you have a favorite lighthouse? Stop by and leave me a note. I'm always looking for new lighthouses to visit and photograph. Lighthouse Lensography

Lighthouse Enthusiast Lensmaster of the Month

2009-07-10T14:19:00.000-05:00

For July/ August the lensmaster of the month is John Banks aka Daybreak in our Lighthouse Enthusiasts group.

Here are Johns comments on his interest in lighthouses.

I am a lifelong lighthouse enthusiasts. As a boy I was able to see and
explore Assateague Island Lighthouse which is near my home town. Later as an
adult I developed a passion for saltwater fishing, which exposed me to many of
the lighthouses of the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland and Virginia Coast and
eventually to more distant ports such as Cape May, NJ, New Bedford, MA and
Gloucester MA.

When I started creating websites, it was a logical step to include
lighthouses in the content of several sites. For instance,
www.chincoteague-island.net
features news, articles and photo galleries about Assateague Island Lighthouse.
Another site that relies heavily on lighthouse content is
www.chesapeake-bay.org. Our
CafePress store at
http://www.cafepress.com/outdoorsusa also features several sections of
lighthouse art.

Squidoo is an excellent tool for sharing lighthouse information, art and
links. My lighthouse lenses include

http://www.squidoo.com/chesapeake-bay-lighthouses and

http://www.squidoo.com/assateague-lighthouse.

Please stop by Lighthouse Enthusiasts to wish John well and you may also want to visit John's newest sit at Nautical Art.

Lighthouse Kitchen Decor

2009-07-08T09:53:00.000-05:00

Are you looking to spruce up your kitchen? Perhaps you just want to add a couple accessories or maybe you want a whole new look.

If you love lighthouses I have just the accessories for you. I was amazed at all the great lighthouse kitchen items that are available. I found great teapots, salt and pepper shakers, clocks, a wonderful strainer and so much more.

Be sure to check out my lens on Lighthouse Kitchen Decor.

Lighthouse Decorations for your Garden

2009-06-15T15:56:00.000-05:00

Does your outdoor living area need a facelift? Lighthouse Decor can brighten up that drab area around your garden, deck or patio. This lens will show you a variety of lighthouse decor priced just for the budget minded. From Welcome Mats to Birdhouses you will find them at Lighthouses for your Garden.

Florida's Tallest Lighthouse

2009-04-22T17:55:00.001-05:00

Enjoy a photographic tour of Ponce De Leon Inlet lighthouse. This tall and stately red lighthouse can be seen at Ponce De Leon Lighthouse.

Jupiter Lighthouse at Night

2009-04-07T07:58:00.001-05:00

I have just returned from a trip to Florida where I was able to set up my tripod and photograph the Jupiter lighthouse at night. There is a light reflecting at the lighthouse and I love the way you can see the light from the lens and the bright red lighthouse against the evening sky. You can see more of my Jupiter photos at my
JUPITER lens.

Nassau Lighthouse

2009-03-28T09:29:00.001-05:00

When our cruise ship pulled into to Nassau harbor I was excited to see this wonderful lighthouse. I was able to photograph the lighthouse from various angles and times of day. We could see the lighthouse from the deck of the ship while we were in port.

I have added several products with the Nassau lighthouse image on my Zazzle shop.

To see more of my photos from Nassau check out my lens at Nassau Lighthouse.

Enjoy!

Lighthouse Gifts and Photos

2009-02-16T08:06:00.000-06:00

I have just started a new store on Lighthouse Gifts and Photos to hightlight my lighthouse photographs. This store will be showing lighthouse designs fro my photographs on a variety of items. You will find key chains, mugs, a selection of different bags, and magnets, as well as prints of my photographs. I hope you enjoy this new venue for my work.

Eagle Bluff Lighthouse

2009-02-04T08:33:00.001-06:00

The lighthouse at Eagle Bluff was first operated in 1868. It is located in Peninsula Park near Fish Creek, Wisconsin.

For 35 years the lighthouse keeper and his family, which included seven active boys, made sure the light was shining over the bay. To read more and this story and see photographs I took of the lighthouse visit my lens at Eagle Bluff Lighthouse.

Lighthouse Enthusiasts

2009-02-03T09:32:00.001-06:00

Do you love lighthouses? My new squidoo group Lighthouse Enthusiasts has a wide variety of lenses abut lighthouses. Find lenses about lighthouses from Maine to Florida or perhaps you would like to read a fascinating story about a lighthouse on the coast of Scotland.

There are also lenses that feature lighthouse decor and paintings and you will not want to miss the lens on haunted lighthouses.

Lighthouse enthusiasts, this is the group to join or just stop by for a visit!

2009-01-30T19:56:00.001-06:00

Do you have an interest in Lighthouses? If so I invite you to join my Lighthouse Enthusiasts group. This group is for anyone who has a lens on Lighthouses or anyone who would like to write a lens on lighthouses. If you are interested please follow the link below. If you know someone else who has a lighthouse lens...please pass on this information.

http://www.squidoo.com/group/create_lens/lighthouses/80e3eaa8138fee2ef82e55ea6bd86daf

Cool Art Deco Lighthouse

2009-01-27T15:51:00.001-06:00

Port Washington, Wisconsin has a very cool looking pierhead lighthouse. It is an art deco design that was built in 1935. On a visit to Door County, Wisconsin we stopped for the night in Port Washington and were pleasantly surprised to find they had two lighthouses. Port Washington is a wonderful small town with a nice harbor and lots of beautiful flowers. You can see my photographs and read more about Port Washington at Art Deco Lighthouse

2009-01-25T20:01:00.000-06:00

Hello Everyone

I love lighthouses. Since my retirement two years ago I have been busy photographing lighthouses on the various trips we have taken. I have photographed lighthouses in Maine, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida.

This blog will be devoted to talking about lighthouses and showcasing lighthouses photographs. I will start with my own squidoo lenses, but I hope to also have contributions from other people talking about lighthouses they have visited and sharing photographs.

Today I wrote a new lens on the lighthouse in South Haven, Michigan. It includes many of the photographs I took while visiting South Haven. You can view my lens at South Haven Lighthouse .