The Lighthouse Lowdown: Recent Episodes

Emily Straight and Vincent Bailey

Ahoy sailors! In this podcast we talk about all things Lighthouses - their history, spooky stories, and the things that make them cooler than your average tower.

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Ahoy everyone! The Lighthouse Lowdown is back!

We are continuing with our Green Island series, this time traveling to Western Canada where you may spot a beautiful white and red light station on a lone island in the most dangerous body of water on Canada shores.

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Also known locally as Goat Island Lighthouse, Newport Harbor Lighthouse was extended out onto a breakwater with its original tower being used in Prudence Island. The lighthouse and its city go all out for the holidays!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Lighthouse Lowdown! We will be back in 2026.

References:

  1. The Cutters, Boats, and Aircraft of the US Coast Guard
  2. Newport Harbor Lighthouse Christmas Lighting Event
  3. Newport Harbor Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  4. Keeper's Log Spring 2016 | USLHS

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We are continuing our Green Island series with this Wisconsin gem, which had survived two explosions and a devastating forest fire, but ultimately succumbed to time.

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References:

  1. Doomsday List | Lighthouse Digest
  2. Green Island Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  3. Private Islands Inc.

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We are starting a fun series with the Green Island Lighthouses of the world, starting with Ohio! It's not often you hear of a lighthouse that burns down twice, and unfortunately this history has put our light on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List.

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References:

  1. Green Island Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  2. Green Island Light Station | USLHS Archives

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The SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank November 10th, 1975. Gordon Lightfoot's song brought it to posterity in 1976, and we've been talking about it since. Listen in as Vince does a solo-episode about the infamous ship, wreck, and song!

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References:

  1. Gordon Lightfoot – The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald Lyrics | Genius Lyrics
  2. The Cruelest Month - Edmund Fitzgerald Newsweek, November 24, 1975 | PDF | Water Transport | Violence
  3. TIL Gordon Lightfoot was inspired to write "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" when he saw the name misspelled as "Edmond" in Newsweek magazine. He felt the misspelling dishonored the memory of the 29 men who died when the freighter sank in Lake Superior during a storm on November 10, 1975. : r/todayilearned
  4. SS Edmund Fitzgerald - Wikipedia
  5. 105 - Marine casualty report : SS Edmund Fitzgerald; sinking in Lake ... - Full View | HathiTrust Digital Library

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Like most beachy lighthouses, Point Betsie battled shifting sands for its whole lifetime, now shielded by at least three methods of erosion control to keep the light shining! Point Betsie Lighthouse is a standing testament to what a community can do (whether that's saving a lighthouse, building a road, or saving lives) when they work together.

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References:

  1. Point Betsie Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  2. Friends of Point Betsie Lighthouse
  3. Annual Reports of the Lighthouse Board| National Archives and Records Administration

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Although this was the last lighthouse built in Connecticut, it is the first for us to cover in the state, and the first we've covered that skipped straight to 200 Watt bulbs! Avery Point Lighthouse was built by the Coast Guard in 1944 as a part of their training center, later becoming a physics laboratory for the University of Connecticut.

Thank you to all who left us reviews! Merch (and a giveaway) is coming your way.

References:

  1. Avery Point Light | American Lighthouse Foundation
  2. Avery Point Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  3. Avery Point | USLHS
  4. Avery Point Light | Wikipedia

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Listener Lighthouse! I'm trying to think of a lighthouse where I have this hard of a time saying it's name out loud... Regardless, Crisp Point Lighthouse was close neighbors with a Life-Saving Station, along with three others built along "Shipwreck Coast" in 1876. This red-capped light still shines today as a private ATON.

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References:

  1. Crisp Point Light Historical Society
  2. Crisp Point Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  3. Light Lists | Navigational Center USCG

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What's prettier than a lighthouse on a cliff edge? Point Bonita lives up to its name, adjacent to a mini version of the Golden Gate Bridge. It shines on to this day with its original second order Fresnel lens!

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References:

  1. https://miladidit.com/2017/12/12/point-bonita/
  2. Point Bonita Lighthouse
  3. Point Bonita Lighthouse - Golden Gate National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)
  4. Point Bonita Lighthouse, California at Lighthousefriends.com

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In honor of Maine Open Lighthouse Day coming up on September 13, we are covering one of the over a dozen participants! Little River Lighthouse's forest green-turned-mint lantern room is just a plus.

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References:

  1. Maine Open Lighthouse Day 2025 | American Lighthouse Foundation
  2. Little River Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  3. Maine Open Lighthouse Day at Little River
  4. Little River Light History | New England Lighthouses

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Not many original lighthouses last longer than their replacements, but this is the case for the second oldest brick lighthouse in American history! Sapelo Island Lighthouse was lit in 1820, and still stands today on the island with the last known Gullah community.

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References:

  1. Stations | USLSSHA
  2. Ohio Life Saving Station No. 10 | Belle of Louisville
  3. Sapelo Island Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  4. USLHS Keeper's Log 1988

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Where is whitefish fishing good? Probably at the Whitefish Township, at Whitefish Point in Whitefish Bay...which is why we needed Whitefish Point Lighthouse! Have I said whitefish too much? This skeletal lighthouse is unique in many ways, with a decagonal lantern room, second floor covered walkway, and a lifeboat station that physically left the grounds to return decades later.

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References:

  1. Stations | USLSSHA
  2. Whitefish Point Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  3. Whitefish Point Lighthouse | Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
  4. Whitefish Lifeboat Station

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Vince is back from Sweden, and he brought back tales of a lighthouse that took many daymarks over it's lifetime! The Väderöbod Lighthouse is one of many Swedish lighthouses built on the islands of the Väderöarchipelago. Although it is 9 miles off the coast, if you can handle yourself in a kayak you are welcome to visit and even stay on the island!

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References:

  1. David Lyle and his Life Saving Gun - Springfield Armory National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)
  2. About the lighthouse – Föreningen Väderöbod

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While Lobster Cove makes me think of a rocky beach and open seas all around, what you'll find in Newfoundland is vastly different! Surrounded by a lush national park, glacier-carved fjords and thundering waterfalls, Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse flashes white over 100 feet above the waves.

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References:

  1. Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  2. Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse | Parks Canada
  3. Sun Valve | Go Industrial

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If the cute name of this lighthouse doesn't catch your attention, the history sure will! That is, if you like lighthouses that are also a post office.

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References:

  1. Nova Scotia Explore Page
  2. Peggy's Cove Website
  3. Peggy's Point Wikipedia
  4. Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society
  5. The Canadian Lighthouse Route
  6. Nova Scotia Lighthouse Route
  7. Nova Scotia Lighthouse Road trip | Travel Bunny

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Unfortunately, the name Cape Fear directly correlates to how mariners felt about the area, dubbing the Frying Pan Shoals almost as fearsome as the Graveyard of the Atlantic. However, efforts to light the area were a struggle, and we ended up with many different lighthouses (and lightships) in an attempt to mark the shoals.

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References:

  1. The Cape Fear Lighthouse's Prism Project | Our State
  2. Cape Fear Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  3. Frying Pan Lightship | Lighthouse Friends
  4. Frying Pan Lightship Restaurant

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We've all heard stories here and there of what keepers went through on the job at their lighthouses - the position was rife with danger! Vince takes us on a deep dive of what was really at stake for our lighthouse keepers and the perils they faced in daily life.

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References:

  1. In Memoriam | United States Lighthouse Society
  2. Lighthouse Oil Myths & Folklore - Ponce Inlet Lighthouse
  3. The Dangers of Lighthouse Keeping - Lighthouse Explorers
  4. The Dark Side of Lighthouses | Hakai Magazine
  5. Stannard Rock: The Loneliest Place on the Continent - Lake Superior Magazine

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Didn't get enough of Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse in our last episode? Us either! Listen in as historian Ralph Krugler gives the inside scoop about the lighthouse's restoration project, history, and interesting stories!

Please consider donating towards the restoration at https://www.hillsborolighthouse.org/

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Like most inlets in eastern Florida, Hillsboro Inlet's waters were filled with wrecked ships. But it wasn't until 1907 that a lighthouse was built there, sturdy enough to withstand hurricanes, shifting sands, and the ocean waves. Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse was home to some of the best lighthouse keepers the US had to offer, and still shines brightly today with it's original Fresnel lens in its lantern room!

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References:

  1. Thank you Ralph Krugler!!
  2. Cap's Place Island Restaurant
  3. Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  4. Reef Locator
  5. Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse Website

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While we cover Walton Lighthouse as our history buoy this time, the meat of this episode covers mercury floats! How did they work? Why were they implemented? Did they really have a negative effect on keepers? Listen in as we answer all these questions and more!

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References:

  1. Santa Cruz Breakwater | Lighthouse Friends
  2. Santa Cruz Breakwater Light | Wikipedia
  3. Lights with Mercury Floats | USLHS
  4. Lens Rotation | USLHS
  5. Mercury Float Rotation by James Woodward
  6. Mercury + Aluminum Reaction | Reddit

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Vince takes us to sunny Mexico to look at a golf course that is blessed with not one, but two lighthouses on the tip of the Baja California Sur. While the area beckons with it's pristine golf courses and resorts, the real treasure are the lighthouses hundreds of feet above the thrashing surf.

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References:

  1. Quivira Los Cabos Residence
  2. El Faro Viejo Cabo San Lucas – Old Cabo
  3. One Course, Two Lighthouses: Quivira Golf Club - InMexico
  4. Golf Resorts Mexico | Golf
  5. Lighthouses near the world's golf courses
  6. symphony.cdn.tambourine.com/quivira-los-cabos-residence/media/old-lighthouse-5dcc571a03cee.mp4
  7. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1A51ataq4h/

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In honor of WIC week, we are covering the lighthouse with the most years kept by women keepers! Biloxi Lighthouse is also known well in Mississippi as a symbol of resilience after surviving Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

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References:

  1. Biloxi Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  2. Biloxi Lighthouse Throughout the Years | City of Biloxi
  3. Biloxi Lighthouse | USLHS

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Listener Lighthouse! Thank you to Megan for sending this in.

Commonly known as the I Love You Lighthouse, Minot's Ledge actually has a deadly history as a strange lighthouse on stilts! When that one failed, engineers used the successful construction tactics from the Eddystone Lighthouse to build a stone tower that still stands today.

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References:

  1. Minot's Ledge Lighthouse | Lighthouse Stars
  2. Minot's Ledge Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  3. Minot's Ledge Light history | New England Lighthouses
  4. Minot's Ledge | USLHS
  5. Mahan Lens Video

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We're headed back over to California today to talk about a lighthouse that, like many others, went dark after the beginning of WWII - however, Point Fermin Lighthouse was never relit. Decades later, its Fresnel lens was found in an unlikely location...

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References:

  1. Point Fermin Lighthouse | LA Parks
  2. Point Fermin Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  3. Point Fermin | USLHS

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If you are one of our wonderful UK listeners, these two names may be familiar to you! Vince is taking us across the pond to one of the oldest lighthouses in the UK, and the first lighthouse to be built on a rock in open sea. While the first two editions of the light were shaky at best, John Smeaton created a version that stood the test of time (and we're convinced even a nuke couldn't bring it down!).

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References:

  1. The Eddystone Lighthouse • John Smeaton • MyLearning
  2. (1) The Lighthouse that inspires the invention of a new cement! | LinkedIn
  3. An Eddystone Adventure - Sandeman’s Yachting Chronicles
  4. The Eddystone Lighthouse | National Coastwatch Institution

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Welcome to the second installment of our Christmastime at Lighthouses special! Last year we covered classics like St. Augustine Lighthouse and Nauset Light, and this year we selected five special lighthouses from our 2024 lineup that do something special for the holidays.

Listen in for some festive magic and lots and lots of Christmas lights!

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References:

  1. https://www.mainelightstoday.com/nubble-lightlike-no-other-lighthouse-at-christmastime/
  2. https://www.mnhs.org/events/2948
  3. https://www.christmasinedgartown.com/
  4. https://www.vineyardsquarehotel.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-christmas-in-edgartown/
  5. https://www.kporttrust.org/flying-santa
  6. https://tworivertimes.com/historic-lighthouse-becomes-christmas-beacon/
  7. https://www.skogasafn.is/skogar-museum/artifacts/deck-prism/

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You probably wouldn't dream of using a lighthouse for bombing target practice...right? Unfortunately, that was the fate of Waugoshance Lighthouse, built in the 1850s and hanging on by a thread today. Efforts to restore the light were abandoned in 2021, leaving this light to fall to into the waiting arms of Lake Michigan.

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References:

  1. Waugoshance Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  2. Waugoshance Light | Wikipedia
  3. We Bombed Waugoshance Light | Restless Viking
  4. What do the numbers mean on a nautical chart? | National Ocean Service

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Many know which lighthouse was the last to be automated in the US, but what about second to last? Goat Island Lighthouse of Kennebunk, Maine was not automated until 1990, and even today there are caretakers who watch over the light and the island it rests on.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our US listeners!

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References:

  1. Islands & Lighthouse — Kennebunkport Conservation Trust
  2. Goat Island Light | Lighthouse Friends
  3. Station's Facebook
  4. Goat Island Lighthouse | Jeremy D'Entremont
  5. Thanksgiving at The Rock
  6. Thanksgiving Miracle at Tillamook Rock Light
  7. Thanksgiving at Boon Island Light

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You've heard of nuclear bombs and nuclear power plants, but have you ever heard of a nuclear lighthouse? Baltimore Harbor Lighthouse was a pain in the behind to build, but it's troubles didn't stop there! Listen in for the story of the first (and only) US light to be run with nuclear power!

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References:

  1. Baltimore Light Station > United States Coast Guard > All
  2. The Baltimore Light | Lighthouse in Chesapeake Bay
  3. Caisson (engineering) - Wikipedia
  4. Measuring Worth - purchasing power of the dollar.
  5. Baltimore Lighthouse, Maryland at Lighthousefriends.com

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Happy Halloween everyone! Today we're covering the spooktacular Pensacola Lighthouse, home of the Blue Angels and spirits of long past...Listen in for the story of how this 40 foot lighthouse became a 150 foot beauty.

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References:

  1. Pensacola Lighthouse Website
  2. Pensacola Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  3. Pensacola Lighthouse considered one of most haunted in America | WKRG
  4. Winslow Lewis: A Nineteenth Century Lighthouse Scalawag | USLHS
  5. Winslow Lewis | USLHS Archives
  6. Winslow Lewis | National Archives
  7. Pensacola Lighthouse Timeline
  8. Pensacola X | Reddit

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It is not often that a lighthouse is built to replace an old tower, only for both to remain in service (and not as range lights)! This is the case for the Cape Romain Lighthouses, very different in color, stature, and light characteristic, but only a few yards apart! Listen in to this episode to hear about their exciting history and how you can visit them today.

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References:

  1. Cape Romain Lighthouses | Lighthouse Friends
  2. Keeping the Lights On | The Maine Mag
  3. Cape Romain Lighthouse Boat Tour | Coastal Expeditions
  4. Light List | USLHS
  5. Cape Romain Suicide | Lighthouse Digest

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Best known for it's annual Christmas lighting ceremony, Cape Neddick Light, or Nubble Lighthouse, sits out of reach of visitors on a tiny island in Maine. Although it can't be visited now, Nubble Light has a rich history of tourism, including by the cat Sambo Tonkus (amazing name!).

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References:

  1. Nubble Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  2. The Wreck of the Isadore | NE Lights
  3. Cape Neddick Nubble Light History | New England Lighthouses

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Can't think of anything fun to do next month? Pack up the kids and head to New Jersey! The third weekend of October is the Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey, where anyone can drive the state shoreline to collect lighthouse, museums, and life saving stations!

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References:

  1. Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey (lighthousechallengenj.com)
  2. 2023 Lighthouse Challenge of NJ Sites - Google My Maps
  3. 28837 Daboll Fog Alarm Patent.pdf (uslhs.org)

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Man, can Vince and I talk!

In this lengthy episode, we chat about our trip to Cape Cod from beginning to end. If you're considering visiting the Cape, or just want to hear more about our adventure, listen in!

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Also known as lightvessels, lightships are lighthouse's little brothers, guarding areas where lighthouses are not easily built. While there are only around 15 lightships remaining today, the history of these ships stretch back hundreds of years!

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References:

  1. Lightships | National Park Service
  2. Lightship | Wikipedia
  3. History of Lightships | Nantucket Historical Association
  4. First Lightship | Guinness World Records
  5. A History of Lightships | US Coast Guard Lightship Sailors Association International

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20 miles into Lake Michigan from Mackinac Bridge, White Shoal Lighthouse is the only red-and-white barber shop tower in the US. As the tallest lighthouse on the Great Lakes, it has seen its fair share of action in its relatively short history. However, most of the history is in the making as White Shoal Light undergoes restoration to be unique lodging for adventure-seekers!

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References:

  1. What type of paint is used on your lighthouses? | Trinity House
  2. Preserving America's Lighthouse Legacy | Tnemec
  3. Lighthouse Preservation, Masonry | National Park Service
  4. White Shoal Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  5. Visiting White Shoal
  6. Seeing The Light
  7. White Shoal MI | USLHS
  8. WSLHPS Facebook

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Hereford Inlet Lighthouse was built in 1874 in the "stick" architectural style, sporting a red light characteristic until changing to a fixed white, then flashing white-red, to the flashing white we have today. While its gardens are considered one of the top 10 things to see in New Jersey, the lighthouse itself is beautiful to see and flush with exciting history!

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References:

    • Hereford Inlet Lighthouse (herefordlighthouse.org)
  1. Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, New Jersey at Lighthousefriends.com
  2. Hereford Inlet Lighthouse – North Wildwood, New Jersey
  3. North Wildwood changes lock on lighthouse, sparking public feud - WHYY
  4. Things You Didn't Know About the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse | Galloway, NJ Patch

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Now that we covered the first lighthouse in the US to display a Fresnel lens, it's time to "shed light" on the first lighthouse in the world to have one! Cordouan Lighthouse is a beautiful renaissance-style tower over four miles out in the Bay of Biscay. The 221 foot tall light is now a World Heritage Site and became a monument historique at the same time as Notre-Dame de Paris.

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References:

  1. Cordouan Light Website
  2. Cordouan Lighthouse | Wikipedia
  3. Cordouan Lighthouse | UNESCO
  4. Cordouan Lighthouse | Gironde Tourisme
  5. Phare de Cordouan
  6. Gardiens Cordouan | Facebook
  7. Cordouan Youtube

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We are covering a mini lighthouse for our mini episode! Deemed the "smallest working light tower in the world", North Queensferry Light still has it's original Argand lamp, lit today by visitors with vegetable oil!

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References:

  1. Forth Bridges Lighthouse Museum and Piers
  2. North Queensferry Lighthouse | Lighthouse Accommodation
  3. North Queensberry Harbour Light | Visit Scotland
  4. Tower History | NQHT
  5. Interactive Map
  6. Inside the world's smallest working 'lighthouse' in the Forth which can shine for three miles and is powered by vegetable oil | The Scotsman

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There's a first for everything, and Navesink Lighthouse was there for a lot of them! When it became the first station to have a Fresnel lens in the Unites States, Navesink secured it's position as the guinea pig for a lot of the country's new innovations and technology. Listen in for the story of a lighthouse so powerful, that chickens stopped laying eggs.

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References:

  1. International Code of Signals 1969
  2. Twin Lights Historical Society
  3. Navesink Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  4. The Fresnel Affair: Manufacturing, Technology Transfer, Republicanism, and the Adoption of the Fresnel Lighthouse Lens in the United States, 1819 - 1852
  5. Fresnel Lens Development Chronology

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Okay, we thought we were special having a lighthouse logo with a blue daymark. Absecon Lighthouse is stealing our thunder! This Atlantic City lighthouse has had seven changes to its daymark since it was built in 1856. Listen in to hear about the lighthouse that wasn't deemed necessary in the first place.

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References:

  1. https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=379
  2. The Atlantic City Free Public Library - History of Atlantic City (acfpl.org)
  3. Absecon Lighthouse – Watch Lessons
  4. https://photos.tmahlmann.com/Places/North-America/United-States/New-Jersey/Lighthouses/Absecon-Lighthouse
  5. Adobe Stock Photos

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Ever wondered what it might have been like to be sequestered on an island during covid? Desiree Heveroh can tell you! Listen in for the story of how she volunteered to keep the light station company during the pandemic and what it was like to be there without power for two months straight.

Note: East Brother Lighthouse was covered in Episode 20 of this podcast if you would like to learn more!

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Lahaina Lighthouse went through four different towers before settling on what we see today. Many may recognize the name of this lighthouse due to the terrible fire that ripped through it's town last year, and we go through some of the details from the FSRI report that was released this month.

If you feel inclined to donate, you can do so here: Maui Strong Fund | Hawaii Community Foundation

Check out our website: thelighthouselowdown.com

References:

  1. Lahaina Lighthouse, Hawaii at Lighthousefriends.com
  2. Lāhainā Lighthouse - Wikipedia
  3. The Overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy | KS’ Ho‘okahua Cultural Vibrancy Group
  4. Royal Family of Hawaii Official Website
  5. Light List | USLHS
  6. Lahaina Harbor Lighthouse | USLHS Archives
  7. Lahaina Lighthouse | Coast Guard
  8. Lahaina Restoration Foundation
  9. AP News Article
  10. Lahaina Comprehensive Timeline Report

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That's right, Lady Liberty was an official lighthouse! While only managed by the Lighthouse Board from 1886 to 1902, the colossal statue has an incredible history and is now maintained by the National Park Service. Listen in for the amazing story of how funding was raised, how she failed as a lighthouse, and how she was originally built wrong - and left that way for almost a century!

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References:

  1. The Statue of Liberty | Lighthouse Friends
  2. The Statue of Liberty | Wikipedia
  3. Changing Landscapes | National Park Service
  4. Restoring the Statue | National Park Service

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It's easy for people like us to see lighthouses on our trips, because that's usually what we're there to do! But what if you hadn't considered yet if you want to visit a lighthouse on vacation? What if you have never planned a lighthouse-related trip before? In this episode, Vince walks us through easy ways to integrate lighthouses into your vacations or trips, whether you're landlocked like us or live right on the beach!

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References:

  1. https://uslhs.org/travel
  2. https://uslhs.org/resources/lighthouse-technology/patents
  3. https://www.lighthousefriends.com/maps.html

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This is the first lighthouse that we have covered that is a replica of a lost original - Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse was haphazardly dumped into the Croatan Sound after being decommissioned in 1955, but the town of Manteo brought it back to life again in 2004!

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References:

  1. USLHS Membership Levels
  2. Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  3. Roanoke Marshes Light Lists | USLHS
  4. Charles W. Pugh | USLHS

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Ever heard of a lighthouse that forms its own beach? Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse is another case of a damaged light replaced with an existing light from another town in Massachusetts, just like Nauset Light! Listen in for how a series of hurricanes made our breakwater light into a beach light!

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References:

  1. Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  2. Edgartown Harbor Light List
  3. Edgartown Harbor | USLHS
  4. National Park Service, Edgartown
  5. Martha's Vineyard Museum
  6. Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse | Wikipedia

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Pemaquid Point Lighthouse is another light that may be recognizable to the average American - it graces the Maine quarter! Another case of a rubblestone lighthouse falling apart, Pemaquid was rebuilt in 1835 and has withstood the test of time. Today, it suffers from the effects of the January 10th/13th storm along the coast of Maine, and needs your help to restore its historic fog bell house.

USLHS Storm Damage Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inkKRjnvvJs

Leave a review on our website: thelighthouselowdown.com

References:

  1. Maine town plans to rebuild historic lighthouse damaged by storm
  2. Pemaquid Point | USLHS
  3. Light Lists | USLHS
  4. Sanibel Lighthouse restored with new leg after hurricane damage
  5. Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, Maine at Lighthousefriends.com
  6. Dunham Family Newsletter
  7. Pemaquid Point Lighthouse
  8. Lessons Learned from Maine's January Flooding | Thornton Tomasetti
  9. Acting in the Wake of Storm Damage to Maine Lighthouses.

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Throughout American history, the responsibility of lighthouses have fallen on many different shoulders - it can get confusing, even for us! In this episode, Vince breaks down how lighthouses have changed hands over the years and how the USLHS (which we rely on heavily for our research) came to be! Listen in for how the United States Lighthouse Society, a hub of lighthouse information, does incredible work towards the preservation of our lighthouses today!

Liked this episode? Leave us a review on our website thelighthouselowdown.com

References:

  1. Lighthouses@Lighthouse Digest ... U.S.L.H.E. v s U.S.L.H.S.
  2. Home | United States Lighthouse Society (uslhs.org)

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A lighthouse is often summoned in history by a devastating storm, and this was true as well for Split Rock Lighthouse. Perched on the edge of a 130 ft cliff, the light is one of the most photographed in the US.

Enjoyed the episode? Leave us a review on our website thelighthouselowdown.com

References:

  1. Split Rock Lighthouse | Wikipedia
  2. Minnesota Historical Society Website
  3. Split Rock Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  4. Franklin Covell Keeper Bio

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The way to a lighthouse on the narrowest point between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron was a long one, and ended with two lighthouses instead of one! Listen in for the story of the 1890 castle-esque Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and how a bridge took it out of service.

Happy New Year to all of our listeners! Leave us a review on our website: thelighthouselowdown.com

References:

  1. Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  2. Mackinac State Historic Parks
  3. Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse | Wikipedia

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Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to our followers!

Each lighthouse celebrates this season differently, so we're bringing you a festive Christmas tradition from three different lighthouses that we've covered this year.

Congratulations Andrea for winning our Stanley cup giveaway!

References:

  1. St. Augustine Lighthouse shows off historical Christmas displays
  2. Light the Lighthouse | Montauk Historical Society
  3. Harbormaster Edward Michels | East Hampton Star
  4. Lighthouse Illuminations - Tide, Tidings, and Trees
  5. Nauset Light Wreath | Cape Cod Times
  6. David M. Gray Christmas Wreath | Nauset Light

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GIVEAWAY EPISODE!

Curious as to why they would name a cape and subsequent lighthouse this way? The truth will not...disappoint. Listen in for the story of a lighthouse (and land) that caused a lot of trouble for maritime crews and our keepers. Also, find out how to enter our giveaway for our first Lighthouse Lowdown merchandise!

Liked this episode? Leave us a review on thelighthouselowdown.com

References:

  1. Remembering the wreck of the Oriole : The Ship Report
  2. Cape Disappointment Lighthouse - Google Maps
  3. Columbia River bar - Google Maps
  4. Maritime pilot - Wikipedia
  5. Forgotten Washington | On this day in 1853, the American bark 'Oriole' arrived off the mouth of the Columbia River | Facebook
  6. Remembering the wreck of the Oriole : The Ship Report
  7. The Volcanoes of Lewis and Clark - The Columbia River and Tributaries - Map (usgs.gov)
  8. File:Columbia river bar.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

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Yes, plural! In this episode we cover a set of very different but equally stunning range lights on the Grand Haven South Pier. Listen in for how a foghorn building became a lighthouse, some incredible uses for reinforced concrete, and for our favorite unique light characteristics in action today (hint: we love red!).

Like this episode? Leave us a review on thelighthouselowdown.com

References:

  1. The Montauk Lighthouse Gets Its Lens Back
  2. Coast Guard Returns Fresnel Lens to Montauk Point Lighthouse | United States Coast Guard News
  3. Visit Grand Haven
  4. Grand Haven Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends
  5. Grand Haven Lighthouse
  6. HSR Grand Haven South Pier Appendices | USLHS Archives
  7. Grand Haven South Pierhead Range | USLHS Archives

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St. Augustine Lighthouse is an often-photographed tower that is visually very similar in appearance to Cape Hatteras Light, aside from its bright red lantern room. The designs for this light are virtually identical to Bodie Island and Currituck Lighthouses, though the first form of St. Augustine Lighthouse dates back to the 1500's and looks very different from today! Listen in for the stories of it's past renovations, shattered Fresnel lenses, and its permanent residents that bring revenue to the lighthouse!

Liked this episode? Leave us a review on thelighthouselowdown.com

References:

  1. The haunted St. Augustine Lighthouse - Bing video
  2. USLHS Clocks (michiganlights.com)
  3. The Best Things to Do When Visiting St. Augustine, FL - Beacon Lake
  4. St. Augustine | America's Oldest City | Jason Daniel Shaw
  5. St. Augustine Lighthouse, Florida at Lighthousefriends.com
  6. Home - St Augustine Light House
  7. St. Augustine Lighthouse (sansebastianwinery.com)

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Ready to spook your socks off?! In this episode we cover the history of Marquette Harbor Light, a bright red integral lighthouse that has had its fair share of death, drama, and transformations! In a special twist, the second half of this podcast is an interview with Susan Hill (member of the Marquette Maritime Museum Board of Directors) and Trish Kautz (Founder of Yooper Paranormal investigators), who run paranormal tours at the lighthouse! Listen in to hear the chilling stories from inside the light and to meet its permanent residents...

The interview portion begins at 24:40.

Like this episode? Leave us a review on our website: thelighthouselowdown.com

Follow Yooper Paranormal on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yooperparanormal

References:

  1. https://mqtmaritimemuseum.com/
  2. https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=572
  3. http://www.uslhs.org/
  4. https://www.michiganpreserves.org/marquette-underwater-preserve/

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Ever wonder what Where's Waldo would look like as a lighthouse? Well, look no further! This adorable light tower is the only candy-striped lighthouse in the US and is also the furthest east point in the country as well.

A fan of this episode? Please leave a review on our website thelighthouselowdown.com

References:

  1. https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=506
  2. https://westquoddy.com/
  3. https://uslhs.org/fun/lighthouse-accommodations/maine
  4. https://uslhs.org/light_lists/light_lists.php?notify=Y

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If you've watched the movie Forrest Gump, then you've seen this lighthouse! We would definitely recommend seeing it in person though, on account of its beautiful walkway, granite base, and killer keeper's cottage. Listen in for some "shocking" recent history on this beautiful Maine lighthouse!

Give us a review on our website: thelighthouselowdown.com

References:

  1. https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=529
  2. https://www.marshallpoint.org/
  3. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/08/03/marshall-point-lighthouse-forrest-gump-lightning-maine/70519051007/
  4. https://wgme.com/news/local/popular-maine-lighthouse-shines-again-after-being-damaged-by-lightning-strike-forrest-gump-marshall-point-lighthouse-port-clyde-lightkeepers-house-light-foghorn
  5. https://www.safe-skipper.com/sector-lights-directional-lights-leading-lights-how-do-they-differ/

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People say that if you were to visit one lighthouse in your life, Montauk Point would be the one to go to! Decorated with a beautiful main gallery railing and bold red stripe, Montauk Point Lighthouse has survived nearly 227 years in service. A renovation started in 2019 was just completed, and you can check out its retired 3rd-and-a-half order bivalve Fresnel lens in their museum!

Visit our website to watch videos of our podcast and leave a review: thelighthouselowdown.com

References:

  1. https://uslhs.org/sites/default/files/assets/resources/educational_materials/Ghost%20Canoe/Fresnel%20Lens-Prisim%20Acitivty.pdf
  2. https://www.ponceinlet.org/Understanding-how-Lighthouse-Lenses-Work-1-6297.html
  3. https://uslhs.org/fresnel-lens
  4. https://montaukhistoricalsociety.org/montauk-point-lighthouse/
  5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montauk_Point_Light
  6. https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=391
  7. https://www.nps.gov/maritime/ref/landmarks/lights.htm
  8. https://uslhs.org/fresnel-lens-orders-sizes-weights-quantities-and-costs

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Sanibel Island Lighthouse is the first skeleton lighthouse that we've covered, and is known for shelling, the "Sanibel Stoop", and a story of resilience. The lighthouse in its deconstructed form once rested on the ocean floor, and against all odds it refuses to return. Listen in for the story of a lighthouse that stood strong through Florida's worst storms.

Check out our new website and leave a review! thelighthouselowdown.com

References:

  1. The Thunderstorm Whisperers: A History of Lightning Rods - The Atlantic
  2. 138-year-old Sanibel lighthouse survives Hurricane Ian, but not unscathed - UPI.com
  3. Sanibel Island Lighthouse, Florida at Lighthousefriends.com
  4. Hurricane Ian - Wikipedia
  5. Lightning Rod Fashion - Futility Closet

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We are bringing you another listener lighthouse this Monday and are once again headed over to California to look at Point Arena Light! This tower had a drastic makeover to acclimate it to its environmental conditions, as well as the biggest keepers dwelling I'd ever seen! And did I mention you can get married in the lantern room?

Check out our new website: thelighthouselowdown,com

There you can send us voicemails and emails about lighthouses you'd like for us to cover!

References:

  1. https://pointarenalighthouse.com/
  2. https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=65
  3. https://www.construction-physics.com/p/bricks-and-the-industrial-revolution
  4. 18th- and Early 19th-Century Brickmaking at the John Jay Homestead: The Process, Products, and Craftsmen by Lois M. Feister and Joseph S. Sopko
  5. https://archives.uslhs.org/node/11280
  6. https://thewhaletrail.org/sites/point-arena-light-station/

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Happy National Lighthouse Day! Snake Island Lighthouse (Ukraine) is built on land with an incredible ancient history dating back to 5th century BC and is also making history today. Listen in for the story of the transmission response that signified Ukraine's resilience in todays war, plus a skosh of Greek mythology!

Check out our new website: thelighthouselowdown.com

Here is the link to the USLHS Lighthouse Day competition: https://uslhs.org/dance-contest

References:

  1. /www.trinityhouse.co.uk/about-us/trinity-house-faq/why-are-lighthouses-different-colours-and-heights
  2. https://www.ibiblio.org/lighthouse/ukr.htm
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_Island_(Ukraine)
  4. https://www.ibiblio.org/lighthouse/ukr.htm
  5. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/19/russian-warship-go-fuck-yourself-ukraine-snake-island#:~:text=It%20was%20a%20rocky%20outpost,the%20colour%20of%20its%20serpents.

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If you have a fear of snakes, steer clear of this episode because we do a deep dive into the inhabitants of Snake Island, and how they may have offed the keepers that used to man it's lighthouse. Please check out our new website thelighthouselowdown.com and leave a message for a lighthouse you'd like to hear about!

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DISCLAIMER: This episode is very light on lighthouse information - if you enjoy listening to friends chat over some lighthouse themed beverages, this is the episode for you!Listen in and learn more (maybe too much) about your hosts as Vince whips up some special lighthouse cocktails for us and our newly wed friends Nathan and Monica. Follow us on our social media through this link: linktr.ee/thelighthouselowdownWatch our YouTube to see how each drink was made!

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Ahoy sailors! We are back from our trip around the world to bring you another international subject. What do you get when you combine hikers and lighthouses? O Camiño dos Faros, or The Lighthouse Way! This trek along the coast of Spain provides access to many different lighthouses, but as you'll hear in this podcast, you have to work for it!Check out our social media and the YouTube video for this episode: linktr.ee/thelighthouselowdownReferences:1. Hiking Spain’s luminous Lighthouse Way - The Washington Post 2. Meanderthals | Hiking Spain’s luminous Lighthouse Way (internetbrothers.org)

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Next stop in our international travel is Japan to visit the Nomazaki Lighthouse or Noma Lighthouse! Lighthouses in Japan are relatively young compared to other countries and heavily influenced by Scottish lighthouse design. Noma is barely a century old, but still has legends surrounding it focused on relationships and love.Check us out on our socials: linktr.ee/thelighthouselowdownReferences:1. Nomazaki Lighthouse (Mihama) Essential Tips and Information (trek.zone) 2. Nomazaki Lighthouse - Wikipedia 3. Noma Lighthouse Details / Explore| Japan Travel by NAVITIME - Japan Travel Guides, Maps, Transit Search and Route Planner 4. 150 Years of Lighthouses in Japan | All About Japan (allabout-japan.com) 5. Westernization of Japanese Culture (ukessays.com) 6. 1871: The Completion of a Lighthouse in Japan – Transportation History

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Sweden is home to many fascinating and historical sights, including Landsorts Fyr, the lighthouse of Öja Island. This is the oldest lighthouse in Sweden made by Swedish hands, and the second oldest lighthouse in the country! Listen to us struggle once again with pronunciation as we talk about Landsorts Lighthouse's several-century-long lifespan and the reasons you should visit its beautiful island.Follow us on social media: linktr.ee/thelighthouselowdownReferences:1. Landsort - lighthouse wiki (fyr.org) 2. Rural Lighthouse - Wikipedia 3. A bit of history – Landsort.com 4. Light Characters (enschrage.nl) 5. Lighthouse – Landsort – Pilot Tower (g-mo.se) 6. Landsort - Wikipedia 7. Restaurant Svedtiljas – Landsort – Lotstornet (g-mo.se) 8. Sleeping in a pilot tower – Svedtiljas Landsort - Take me to Sweden 9. Landsort | Saltboden Kök & Proviant 10. Swedish History - Hans Högman (hhogman.se) 11. Landsorts Lighthouse – Landsort, Sweden - Atlas Obscura

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The name alone strikes fear into the hearts of those that hear it, but the lighthouse was just an unwilling victim of the dark stories behind this island and its past inhabitants. Listen in for stories of fire, murder, a jailbreak, and possibly a tennis court?

Follow our social media: linktr.ee/thelighthouselowdown

References:

  1. Alcatraz Island Lighthouse, California at Lighthousefriends.com
  2. The History of Alcatraz (alcatrazhistory.com)
  3. Alcatraz Island Lighthouse - Wikipedia
  4. Alcatraz Lighthouse (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
  5. 1970 fire footage: Alcatraz Island Lighthouse and Structure Fires. Vintage 16mm Camera Footage - YouTube
  6. Alcatraz Island lighthouse rehabilitation planned – The Mercury News
  7. Future may be bright for aging Alcatraz lighthouse (sfgate.com)
  8. The Mudflood, Queen Califia and the Gold Rush | Weewarrior's Weblog (wordpress.com)
  9. Alcatraz-Lighthouse-Then-Now.pdf (alcatrazlighthouse.org)
  10. US Marines Were Called to Fight Prisoners in 'The Battle of Alcatraz' | Military.com

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Also known as Trinity Buoy Wharf Light, this lighthouse is the only one in London! Surrounded inside and out by strange and goofy attractions, the Blackwall Lighthouse has connections to a famous chemist, 1000-year-long music pieces, and hanged pirates.

Follow this link to check out our social media and website: linktr.ee/thelighthouselowdown

References:

  1. https://www.mlive.com/news/2020/11/see-1500-tons-of-rock-being-placed-to-shore-up-beloved-michigan-lighthouse.html
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riprap
  3. Blackwall Point. Part of the Secret London series by Historic UK (historic-uk.com)
  4. Hidden London: London’s Lighthouse in Blackwall « London Visitors (wordpress.com)
  5. London's Only Lighthouse at Trinity Buoy Wharf (historic-uk.com)
  6. Michael Faraday | Science History Institute
  7. Longplayer
  8. Is this London’s strangest landmark? - BBC Travel

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This lighthouse may ring a bell when you see it, as it's graced the cover of books, license plates, and chip bags! This episode actually goes through eight different lighthouses, leading up to the current red and white Nauset Light. Listen in to hear how the first 3 lighthouses bit the dust in a watery grave, and how the rest were given new lives.

GIVEAWAY EPISODE!! Listen in to this episode to hear how to enter into our giveaway to win a bag of the INCREDIBLE Captain Cecil's ground coffee, all the way from the lighthouse that we're covering today.linktr.ee/thelighthouselowdownMA Coffee Roasters | Captain Cecil’s Coffee Roasters (captaincecilscoffee.com)References:

  1. Three Sisters of Nauset - Wikipedia
  2. Nauset Light - Wikipedia
  3. The Three Sisters - Cape Cod Lighthouses
  4. Nauset Lighthouse, Massachusetts at Lighthousefriends.com
  5. https://www.nausetlight.org/

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Welcome to our first Spanish lighthouse, which happens to be the last lighthouse built in Cantabria, Spain. Faro de Ajo, or Garlic Lighthouse, flew under the radar for most of its existence until one very controversial event put it on the map (for tourists at least) and made it the most colorful lighthouse in the world. Seriously, you're going to want to check out our Instagram for this one!

Follow us on social media and check out our YouTube: linktr.ee/thelighthouselowdown

References:

  1. Sea glass - Wikipedia
  2. Faro de Ajo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  3. Faro de Ajo: how to get there, opening hours, price... Visit the Okuda Lighthouse (alfondoalaizquierda.com)
  4. The controversial lighthouse of Ajo (lavanguardia.com)
  5. Spanish lighthouse is transformed into a colorful installation - Lonely Planet
  6. The multicolored lighthouse that attracts more tourists than boats in Cantabria | Traveler

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This lighthouse has to be seen to be believed! Perched on the teeniest and most precarious piece of rock, this Greek lighthouse was rebuilt as homage to a lost....well, you'll just have to listen in!

Follow this link to check out our sponsor New Egg: https://bit.ly/LighthouseLowdown

And follow this one to see our social media and website: linktr.ee/thelighthouselowdown

References:

  1. Tourlitis Lighthouse... the first automatic lighthouse in Greece (andros.travel)
  2. Tourlitis Lighthouse – Andros, Greece - Atlas Obscura
  3. Andros - Google Maps
  4. Tourlitis Lighthouse | Accidentally Wes Anderson
  5. Lower Castle of Andros - Greek Castles (kastra.eu)

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This "lighthouse" name may catch your eye, as will its supremely nautical appearance and novel history! The Salty Dawg was opened in 1957 inside a cabin that today is the oldest original structure in its towns history. The lighthouse part of this pub is another mystery and was hiding a very unique secret.

See pictures of the Salty Dawg Saloon on our Instagram and check out our website by following the link tree below:

linktr.ee/thelighthouselowdown

Use this link for your tech purchases and our podcast will get a little cut: https://bit.ly/LighthouseLowdown

References:

Salty Dawg Saloon - Wikipedia

Salty Dawg Saloon | Homer, Alaska

Salty Dawg Saloon In Homer Alaska Is Delightful (onlyinyourstate.com)

Telling Alaska’s Story: The history behind the Salty Dawg Saloon (alaskasnewssource.com)

1964 Alaska earthquake - Wikipedia

Foghorn - Wikipedia

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The East Brother Light Station has been shaken and burned, yet rose from the ashes to become one of the most beautiful and unique bed and breakfasts we've ever seen! Listen in for tales of earthquakes, explosions, and the job available that puts you in a keeper's shoes.

P.S. Make sure you listen to the very end to hear the station's foghorn!

Take a look at the BNBs website for the job application and to learn more about the lighthouse: https://ebls.org/

Follow us on Instagram @thelighthouselowdown to see pictures of this lighthouse

Check out our new YouTube channel where you can see everything we look at as we record and discuss the lighthouse The Lighthouse Lowdown Podcast - YouTube

References:

Boomtown, 1870s: Decade of Bonanza, Bust and Unbridled Racism | KQED

The Mare Island Explosion: A Defining Moment In Bay Area History (theculturetrip.com)

1906 San Francisco earthquake - Wikipedia

East Brother, History of an Island Light Station, Frank Perry, 1984.

East Brother Lighthouse, California at Lighthousefriends.com

eastbro_fogsig - YouTube

EBLS Inn Keepers Employment Application (formfacade.com)

Wanted: Two Lighthouse Keepers for Tiny Island in San Francisco Bay (businessinsider.com)

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We have an extra special guest today! Toby Smith has the lease to land that includes the Paradise Island Lighthouse in the Bahamas, but nothing is going quite according to plan. Listen in to hear his plans for restoring the lighthouse, bringing in revenue, and the battle to keep the land and lighthouse in local hands.

Check out pictures of the lighthouse from Toby himself on our Instagram @thelighthouselowdown

Also, we now have a YouTube page! Take a look at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk6_zdEMsByXkk4-gu0GH3w to listen along to the podcast with images correlating to our conversations.

Support the fight for the lighthouse by following it on Instagram @pilighthouse242

and on Facebook Paradise "Hog" Island Lighthouse & Beach Club Co. Ltd.

Link to Toby's website for more information: https://www.paradiseislandlighthouse.com/

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Settle in for the soothing tones of Vincent's voice as he leads the story of Paradise Island Light (also known as Hog Island Light, or Nassau Harbor Light). We can tell you, the only thing more exciting than the history of this lighthouse and its island is the history being made surrounding it today! Listen in for tales of naval attacks, cruise ships, and (hopefully) the lighthouse returning back where it belongs - into local hands.

Check out the website https://www.paradiseislandlighthouse.com to learn more!

Follow us on Instagram to see pictures of this lighthouse and any others we cover @thelighthouselowdown

References:

  1. Nassau Harbour Lighthouse, Bahamas (bermuda-attractions.com)
  2. Restoration Project (paradiseislandlighthouse.com)
  3. The History of Paradise Island, Bahamas (usatoday.com)
  4. March 3, 1776: First Amphibious Landing By US Marine Corps - History and Headlines
  5. combatindex.com: LHA 4 : USS NASSAU
  6. Restoration Project (paradiseislandlighthouse.com)
  7. (4) Paradise Island Lighthouse & Beach Club 1 - YouTube
  8. The Revolution with Juan McCartney - December 1 2022 (castos.com)

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Kick off the new year with this in-person lighthouse story with a special guest as my co-host! Listen in as we discuss Barbers Point, a Hawaiian lighthouse with an unconventional appearance and rich history.

Take a look at our Instagram for photos of this lighthouse: @thelighthouselowdown

References:

https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=142

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I thought the name of this amazing lighthouse tradition was pretty self-explanatory, but according to Vince it sounds like a legend about a man falling out of a window. SO, listen in to learn about what Flying Santa is all about and how it came to be. And, if you know anything about vintage planes, this is the episode for you!

Follow us on instagram to see some fun photos surrounding this tradition: @thelighthouselowdown

Follow these links to learn more:

https://flyingsanta.org/Mission.html

https://uslhs.org/education/lighthouse-videos/us-lighthouse-society-special-events

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We only have a couple questions - where did all the gold go? Why did these keepers get a ping pong table? And why won't the Clara Nevada just stay at rest?? Unfortunately, if you listen in we won't be able to answer these questions, but at least you'll know what we're talking about.

To donate to the restoration of Eldred Rock Light, go here: Eldred Rock Lighthouse Preservation Association |

To see some pictures of this stunning lighthouse, visit our Instagram page @thelighthouselowdown

While I couldn't find a link to the play mentioned, I did find a Run 4 the Rock event on the ERLPA website: Run 4 the Rock | Eldred Rock Lighthouse Preservation Association

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This is a very special episode where we get to chat with Carl Lindquist, founder of SWP and owner of Stannard Rock Light, and Fred Stonehouse, a powerhouse of maritime historical knowledge! Join us as we cover the upcoming Stannard Rock Lighthouse restoration, the Superior Watershed Partnership, and Marquette MI. Also, listen in for how you can get a hand-drawn Stannard Rock Light sticker on us!

Plugs:

Donate to Stannard Rock Lighthouse Restoration – Superior Watershed Partnership & Land Conservancy (superiorwatersheds.org)

Superior Watershed Partnership & Land Conservancy – Dedicated to the protection of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (superiorwatersheds.org)

www.FrederickStonehouse.com | maritime Historian, Author, Lecturer

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It's spooky szn, so you know what that means? We are going to gather around in the dark and talk about some lighthouses that have some outrageously scary stories to tell! Listen in for some horrible haunts like the Grey Lady at Heceta Head, some walled in skeletons at Sandy Hook, and tons of executions at...you guessed it...Execution Rocks.

Check us out on Instagram @thelighthouselowdown and our website podpage.com/the-lighthouse-lowdown

Also find the spooky ambience sounds used in this episode here:

http://www.freesound.org/people/klankbeeld/

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Ever wonder if there's a lighthouse that is incompatible with human life? Or has been cut in half? Or was packed up in boxes for nearly 100 years? If so, Triangle Island Light is ready to answer "yes" to all of your questions. Listen in as we do a host-swap and Vince takes over the crazy and unique tale of a lighthouse on the "forbidden island".

Follow us on Instagram @thelighthouselowdown

Links/References:

Map View 1: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Triangle+Island/@50.8405103,-129.1682573,10.33z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x5465d5eefbf17ee3:0x3b4cb4ffe17d215f!8m2!3d50.8643275!4d-129.0819529

Map View 2: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Triangle+Island+Lighthouse/@48.3771672,-123.8264964,12z/data=!4m9!1m2!2m1!1slighthouse!3m5!1s0x548f05d6d093a47d:0xc43efa28bbfa7128!8m2!3d48.384122!4d-123.7059901!15sCgpsaWdodGhvdXNlkgETaGlzdG9yaWNhbF9sYW5kbWFya-ABAA

Ann Vallee: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Vall%C3%A9e

Film Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z9elyJwO2U

Helicopter Tour Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Nm5-mxJA_Y

Ecologists Article: https://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/sh/lBuyhpcqVr/forbidden-island/

Sooke Regional Museum: https://sookeregionmuseum.ca/lighthouse/

Sooke Airbnb: Owl’s Perch Treehouse Unique Treetop Escape - Treehouses for Rent in Sooke, British Columbia, Canada - Airbnb

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Ahoy sailors! Crack open a cold one for this weeks episode as we talk about the role lighthouses played in the Roaring Twenties. We'll cover rum runners vs. the Coast Guard, Claude "King" Cole on Main Duck, and...cow shoes??

Join us on Instagram @thelighthouselowdown

References:

Category:Lighthouses completed in the 1920s – Wikipedia

Prohibition: Years, Amendment and Definition – HISTORY – HISTORY

How an Ontario island kept the U.S. boozy in the prohibition era | Great Lakes Guide

Main Duck Island Lighthouse, Ontario Canada at Lighthousefriends.com

Whisky and Ice: The Saga of Ben Kerr, Canada's Most Daring Rumrunner by CW Hunt

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Ahoy sailors! While we usually travel virtually to lighthouses and talk about their history, this time Vince and I are here in North Carolina recording this podcast at the physical site of each seaside sentinel! Enjoy a short history on Cape Hatteras, Ocracoke, Currituck, and Bodie Island in the shadow of the lighthouses themselves!

References:

North Carolina Lighthouses : The Stories Behind the Beacons from Cape Fear to Currituck Beach by Shelton-Roberts, Cheryl; Roberts, Bruce; Jones, Ray (FRW)

https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=356

https://lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=358

https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=355

https://www.ncpedia.org/eden-charles

https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=357

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We're heading 400 miles north to the Seven Hunters for the mysterious and unexplainable disappearance of three keepers. In this episode we talk about the Flannan Isle Lighthouse and the speculations around what really happened to our unfortunate victims, although we'll never really know the truth.

Head to our Instagram to check out pictures from this episode @thelighthouselowdown

References:

https://gazette665.com/2018/01/10/lighthouse-pets/

https://lighthouseaccommodation.co.uk/directory/flannan-isles-lighthouse/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flannan_Isles_Lighthouse

The Flannan Isle mystery: The three lighthouse keepers who vanished | Sky HISTORY TV Channel

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Ahoy sailors! We're staying in Kirkcudbright for this episode and finishing the tale of Little Ross. Listen in for keeper stories, some ornithology, and murder!

Head to our website podpage.com/the-lighthouse-lowdown to listen to our podcast, and see pictures of things we cover in our episodes on our Instagram @thelighthouselowdown

References

https://www.nlb.org.uk/lighthouses/little-ross-rear/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ross

Little Ross Island & Lighthouses | Lighthouses For Sale Or Rent

Life and Death on Little Ross by David Collin

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Ahoy sailors! Hope everyone has their passports because we're sailing off to Scotland to cover our first lighthouse across the pond. In the first part of this two parter, we hear about the hardworking people who fought for the lighthouse, its construction, and keeper uniforms!

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Ahoy sailors! This week we've got a casual episode comin' at ya answering some lighthouse trivia! Play along and listen as we go on tangents about pyramids, Sally Snowman, and share some drinks.

Take a look at our awesome sponsor for this episode My Postglow at mypostglow.com

Also, make sure you follow our new Instagram account @thelighthouselowdown for some pictures of the lighthouses we cover!

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Ahoy sailors! If ships had seatbelts I'd tell you to buckle them because this lighthouse takes us on a wild ride through history! This episode includes dramatic tales from Civil War soldiers during a time that racked up enough ghosts to make Point Lookout the most haunted lighthouse in the US.

Thanks to our sponsor for this episode, Tidewater Sandals! Use the code THELOWDOWN for 20% off on their site, and listen in to this episode to learn how to enter our giveaway through our email thelighthouselowdown@gmail.com!

https://www.tidewatersandals.com/

Check out these sources for some more information on the lighthouse:

https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=436

Spookiest Lighthouses by Terrace Zepke

Haunted Lighthouses by Ray Jones

https://www.ptlookoutlighthouse.com/

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Ahoy sailors! In this episode we cover the lighthouse that sports the best (or worst?) of both fire and ice in an incredibly remote location. We'll talk about Stannard Rock Lighthouse and how it got its nickname as "The Loneliest Place in the World", along with the accident that nearly brought it to the ground.

Thank you to my sponsors for the episode and follow the links below to make use of their awesome products and services!

Upcoming: Upcoming

Tidewater: (use code THELOWDOWN for 20% off your order!) Tidewater Sandals - Comfort and Style all day

References:

https://old.coastguardmodeling.com/Cutters/03_LHT.html

https://www.navsource.org/archives/12/179784.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stannard_Rock_Light

https://www.lakesuperior.com/the-lake/maritime/333-stannard-rock-lighthouse-the-loneliest-place-on-the-continent/

https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=728

Stannard Rock: The Loneliest Place in the World by Elinor DeWire

Stannard Rock Lighthouse Update Clippings from the USLHS

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Ahoy sailors! This week we dive deep into the dark history of the Bolivar Point Lighthouse in Galveston, TX and how a single man named Moore can ruin everyone's lives.

Check out my sponsor for this episode, and use this link for 50% off your first month as a Lighthouse Lowdown listener: https://teamtreehouse.com/signup_code/podcorncourses

Also, check out my new website at https://www.podpage.com/the-lighthouse-lowdown/ and consider donating to rebuild the Bolivar Point Lighthouse to its former glory at https://www.bolivarpointlighthouse.org/donate-now/

NOTE: I apologize for the echo that shows up here and there during the podcast - we are still figuring the audio out!

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Ahoy sailors! Did I say this episode would be shorter? Sike, because there's so much to cover on the history of the beacon! Listen in for fun facts, history about candles to aerobeacons, and how lighthouses can actually walk. Watch out, because we're bringing the candlepower.

Check out these references for more cool facts:

https://uslhs.org/lighthouse-lamps-through-time

https://uslhs.org/american-lighthouse-lamp-identification-document

https://lighthousepreservation.org/history/

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Ahoy! In this episode we delve into the history of how lighthouses came to be, all the way back to 8th Century BC! We also touch on the lighthouse keepers, and why we have lighthouses in the first place. Part 2 will be a shorter episode covering the history of the lighthouse Beacon and a trick to make lighthouses walk!