Introduction
Lighthouses have played an essential role in our in society. They have
saved ships, lives, and brought countless memories to the keepers that
staffed the lights. Lighthouses come in all different shapes, colors, and
origin. Each building has a rich history and background. Every lantern
is special in its own way. Lighthouses have been lighting our shores
since the early 1700s and will always lead the way to a bright horizon!
Some Lighthouse Facts
All lighthouses have a marking or color scheme. The color of the lighthouse is
called its daymark. The daymark of the Cape May Lighthouse is bone white. That
color helped seamen distinguish that light from another lighthuse along the
shore during the day.
All lighthouses have lanterns. Lanterns make the lighthouse able to shine
its light out to sea. The lens most common in lighthouses during their
heyday was a Fresnel (said fray-nal) Lens. These lenses came in sizes
called orders. The largest were First Order Fresnel Lenses. The smallest
was the sixth order lens. When the size of the lens decreased, so did
its power and strength to produce a powerful beam of ligh out to sea.
Tallest Lightouse In The USA: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, North Carolina
Oldest Operating Lighthouse: Sandy Hook Lighthouse (1764), New Jersey
Epilouge:
Today, many lights are automated, which means that the light is run and
operated by electricity, and no keeper is needed. These days, lighthouses
are being forgotten and mixed into the olden days. But we,
as a society must keep lighthouses in our daily lives, and respect them
for all the work they have done for the countless shipwrecks and lives
that were saved by the courageous keepers. Today, our lights are being
dimmed by the hands of vandals and neglect. We must save them as soon
as possible. Many are crumbling and being lost forever. Their doomsday
may come any day. We need to save our heritage and our history.
Without the hard work of lighthouse enthusiasts and support groups, we
would not have the great renovated and open lighthouses that we do today.
They deserve a hand! Lighthouses may not seem like much, but to the
keepers that took care of them, it is their life.
