More Pictures

A Couple I forgot.



Price Creek Lighthouse ruins (2006) - Entrance to Price Creek near Southport, North Carolina
Destroyed during the Civil War and never rebuilt. Not accessible. Only viewable by taking the Southport-Fort Fisher Ferry.



Oak Island Lighthouse (2006) - Oak Island, North Carolina

The Economic Impact of Lighthouses

We all know that lighthouses were built to prevent shipwrecks and save lives, but few of us have stopped to realize the economic impact of a lighthouse. Today, the impact of a lighthouse is strictly tourism, but when lighthouses were first built, they impacted the local economy through construction and later through increased traffic. A study of the economic impact that lighthouses had on the colonial and early American cities is what I intend to research for my PhD dissertation in maritime history. I am sure after I get started, my topic will expand beyond lighthouses and probably focus more on port infrastructure, but we will see how that works out. I start graduate school in the fall and my PhD will take roughly 5 - 6 years. After that, my dissertation will be reworked and published as a book (as required by most universities to obtain tenure as a professor).

I am interested in hearing thoughts on this topic and whether it would be of interest to anyone outside of the discipline of history.

Pictures

Okay, here are SOME pictures of the lighthouses I have visited. I try to get the most interesting point of view with my shots. For instance, the Whaleback Light photograph was taking while standing in a battery (for cannon fire) at Fort Constitution in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I also always try to get some sort of foliage in the picture to add interest. I have taken all of these pictures myself. Although some may look similar to pictures taken by others (Cape Neddick, Bass Harbor) it is because there are limited angles from which these lights can be photographed.



New London Light (2005) - New London, CT.
I am not 100% positive on the indentification of this lighthouse. It could be Avery Point. In either case, it sits on private property, but it sits right next to the road, so it is easily viewable.



East Tower of the Cape Elizabeth Light (2005) - Cape Elizabeth (Portland), ME
The West Tower has been deactivated. Picture was taken at dusk while dining at the Lobster Shack (a must if you are ever in the area - a Rachel Ray $40/day spot).



Cape Neddick Light (2005) - York, ME
One of Maine's most recognizable lighthouses. Sits on an island just off the mainland. This is really the only photo angle available unless you charter a boat.



Bass Harbor (2005) - Sits inside Acadia National Park in Maine
Closed to the public. Best viewed from the water. Photo angles are limited. This was taken after taking a short trail down to the rocky ledge and then going out on the rocks.



Pemaquid Point Lighthouse (2005) - Bristol, ME
Best known as the lighthouse on the back of the Maine quarter, this lighthouse is off the beaten path, but well worth the trip. I went inside the lighthouse, but did not climb it because it was fairly crowded and the lighthouse was not that large.



Cape Forchu (2005) - Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
The second foreign lighthouse I have visited. Foggy 90% of the time.



Whaleback Light (2005) - Kittery, ME
Actually viewed from Portsmouth, New Hampshire while standing in a battery at Fort Constitution.



Holland Harbor Lighthouse (approx. 1994) - Holland, MI
One of the first lighthouses I ever visited.



Portsmouth Light (2005) - Portsmouth, NH
New Hampshire only has a few miles of coast, but its enough for two lighthouses. Portsmouth Light sits on the grounds of Fort Constitution.



Niagara River Rear Range Light (2005) - Ontario, Canada between Niagara Falls and Niagara-On-The-Lake
A second identical (Front Range) light sits a few hundred yards away, but is 15 feet shorter. One of two foreign lighthouses I have visited.





Fairport Habor (2006) - Fairport, OH
I have a picture of the complete lighthouse, but because of the lighthouse's proximity to the street, it is not a very good picture. The picture captured the telephones lines and a stop sign.





Barcelona Light (2004) - Lake Erie Shore, NY between Dunkirk, NY and Erie, PA
Not one of the prettiest or one of my favorite, but it was still an interesting find.











Fort Niagara Light (2004) - Fort Niagara north of Buffalo and Niagara Falls, NY on the Niagara River
I have gone inside this lighthouse, but it was not open for climbing the day I went because of the wind.

Visiting Lighthouses

As 2009 begins to get underway, we have begun making plans to see which lighthouses we will visit this year. Since 2000, we have visited 81 lighthouses along the Atlantic Coast, Chesapeake Bay and Great Lakes region. Last year, to my dismay, we only visited one lighthouse - Leamington Rear Range Light on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. In 2007, we did not get to visit any new lighthouses as Lori was pregnant with our son James. So after two years of not visiting but one new lighthouse, we hope that 2009 will be a much better year.

We are currently planning a trip in April of May and hope to see several at that time. We haven't decided exactly where we will head off to, but after six years earning my BA degree in history, we deserve a little relaxation. Right now, we am considering either traveling to the South Carolina / Georgia Coast; Key West, Florida, or eastern Michigan. Eastern Michigan would allow us to visit more lighthouses than the others, but we are also looking to enjoy some warmer weather.

Of the lighthouses we have visited over the last 8 years, here are some of my favorites.

Presque Isle, Erie, Pennsylvania - Not open to the public, but it has an interesting character to it. It also holds a special place in my heart as the place I proposed to my wife Lori in 2001.

Cape Hatteras, Buxton, North Carolina - What list wouldn't be complete without including America's tallest lighthouse. Actually all of the lighthouses along the Outer Banks of North Carolina are really nice. We signed a petition at the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in 2002 to help a non-profit organization get ownership of the lighthouse. They finally succeeded in 2006 after a long court battle with Currituck County.

Chicago Harbor Light, Chicago, Illinois - There is just something about the atmosphere of Navy Pier in Chicago that makes this lighthouse special. It's unique structure is is interesting as well.

Seven Foot Knoll, Baltimore, Maryland - This is the first screwpile lighthouse We visited. Although it has been moved inland, the architecture and design are quite interesting.


Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth (Portland), Maine - Like the lighthouses of the Outer Banks in North Carolina, all of Maine's lighthouses are among my favorites. If you count the two towers of the Cape Elizabeth Light, Portland has six lighthouses.

Assateague Island, Chincoteague, Virginia - The red and white stripes of Assateague are unmistakeable. The lighthouse is not open to the public (or wasn't when we were there), but the National Seashore and Wildlife Refugeee are a wonderful place to spend a weekend. If your lucky, you will see the wild horses running along the shore.

I plan to post pictures of the lighthouses we have visited over the last eight years real soon. Hopefully, that will dress up this blog a bit and maybe get a few more followers.