The Lighthouse Preservation Society

Newburyport, Massachusetts


SAVE OUR LIGHTS



DID YOU KNOW THAT AMERICA'S LIGHTHOUSES ARE ENDANGERED?

The long, heroic era of the lighthouse keeper has come to an end. The Coast Guard has automated our nation's lights and abandoned many of the facilities to the ravages of time and the elements.

Without caretakers, the keepers' houses and other buildings have become easy targets for vandalism and damage caused by storms. In just a few yearsm these historic structures deteriorate beyond repair. Lost with them is the treasured maritime history of our country, the witness of countless lives saved, and the beauty of their architecture.

DID YOU KNOW THAT EACH LIGHTHOUSE IS UNIQUE?

The coasts and Great Lakes are lined at night by a fantastic collection of coded, flashing lights. By day, the structures stand out on the horizon, some wooden, some brick, others iron or granite. And in the mist they have resounded with bells and foghorns. Navigators know well the signals of each particular light.

The first American lighthouse was built in Boston Harbor in 1716. Hundreds more followed, facing major challenges in construction on rocky, wave-swept ledges and shifting sands.

Each lighthouse has its own story filled with folklore and legends of shipwrecks, drownings, heroic rescues, romance, and even ghosts.

DID YOU KNOW THAT SCORES OF LIGHTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN LOST?

Neglect, vandalism, erosion . . . these are just some of the forces which work against the abandoned lights. The photographs (coming soon) included illustrate a small portion of the damage that can result.

CAN ANYTHING BE DONE TO STOP THIS DECAY?

YES. The Lighthouse Preservation Society is working to restore these landmarks and to create lighthouse parks, museums, and other public reuses of the lights.

Since 1984 we have been a catalyst for the preservation of lighthouses up and down the nation's coasts. We have raised several million dollars in public funds, and we provide technical assistance to local restoration projects. We bring professionals together with volunteers in this important work, and we are advocates for lighthouse preservation with foundations, media, and government.

With your interest and support, together we can continue to restore these structures and preserve this unique heritage.

YOU CAN KEEP THE LIGHTS SHINING!!!

The Lighthouse preservation Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving America's lighthouses. Our charter is to document the history of the lights and to find creative ways to preserve them and make them more accessible to the public. Some recent successes . . .

  • Proposed and persuaded Congress to pass the $3 million Federal Bicentennial Lighthouse Fund, a matching grants program that has assisted over 150 local communities in restoring their lighthouses.
  • Persuaded the Congress to mandate a Coast Guard review of its lighthouse management policies and practices.
  • Hosted two National Lighthouse Conferences.
  • Arranged for exhibits in the U.S. Senate and House Rotundas, and the National Archives in April, 1990.
  • Nominated the five 1990 U.S. Postal Service lighthouse stamps.
  • Nominated the five 1995 U.S. Postal Service Great Lakes lighthouse stamps.
  • Gave technical assistance, testimony and advocacy support to 175 local lighthouse preservation organizations nationwide.
  • Had Congress proclaim National Lighthouse Day and assisted over 70 coastal towns in their celebrations.
  • Initiated demonstration projects at Isle Au Haut (now a lighthouse inn), Thacher Island North Tower (restored), Monomoy Point (now used for wildlife tours), Ten Pound Island Light (restored and relit), and Portland Breakwater Light (restored).
  • Built a nationwide inventory of lighthouses, reuse ideas, conditions, and local groups.
  • Built links with 250 public and private groups working to preserve their local lighthouses.
  • Developed print and television ad campaigns, posters, exhibits, lectures, editorials and other news coverages.
  • Received Federal Achievement Award in 1992 for creating the Bicentennial Lighthouse Fund.

Membership Information

Membership dues are tax-deductible to the extent authorized by law. Each membership rank category receives a subscription to our newsletter, a window decal, membership card, and a corresponding gift item.

Rank CategoryDuesGift
Cadet (Student under 18)$25Lighthouse book
(for young people)
Assistant Keeper$40Notecards
Keeper$65T-shirt (Size ______)
Inspector$100America's Lighthouses
(history book)
Local Superintendent$500Great American
Lighthouses(guide book)
General Superintendent$1000+Wristwatches with logo
(his and hers)


WITH YOUR HELP,

WE CAN KEEP THE
LIGHTS SHINING.

The Lighthouse Preservation Society
4 Middle Street
Newburyport, MA 01950

(978) 499-0011 Voice
(978) 499-0026 Fax

OUT-OF-STATE, CALL

1-800-727-BEAM



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