The Lighthouse Act
President George Washington signed the 9th act of the first U.S. Congress, federalizing the 12 colonial lighthouses and creating the nation's first public works program.
A Nation's First Public Work
The story of America's lighthouses is the story of the nation's growth. Recognizing that maritime commerce was the lifeblood of the new republic, the government established a unified system of navigational aids, cementing their role as vital instruments of national strategy and expansion. The administration of this network evolved over 150 years, reflecting changes in technology and governance.
Evolution of Lighthouse Administration
U.S. Treasury
(1789-1852)
U.S. Lighthouse Board
(1852-1910)
Bureau of Lighthouses
(1910-1939)
U.S. Coast Guard
(1939-Present)
The Keepers' Watch
At the heart of every lighthouse were the keepers, individuals who lived lives of profound solitude and relentless duty. Their mission was simple: keep the light burning. This often meant manually lighting lamps, trimming wicks through the night, and winding heavy clockwork mechanisms every few hours.
A Legacy of Heroism
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Lives saved by Katie Walker of Robbins Reef Lighthouse, one of the many heroic women who officially served as keepers in one of the first U.S. government jobs available to them.
A Coastline of Beacons
As the nation expanded, so did its network of lights. From the rocky Atlantic coast to the freshwater Great Lakes, each region presented unique challenges, resulting in the world's largest collection of aids to navigation.
This chart shows the approximate number of historic lighthouses found across America's major coastal regions, highlighting the vastness of the system, particularly on the Atlantic and Great Lakes.
Lighting the Way: A Technological Revolution
The history of lighthouses is a story of relentless innovation, a quest for a brighter, more reliable light. The greatest leap was the Fresnel lens, which could focus a lamp's glow into a beam visible for miles.
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Oil Lamps
Replaced unreliable wood fires, using whale oil then kerosene for a steady flame.
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Fresnel Lens (1822)
A French invention using prisms to magnify light, revolutionizing beacon intensity.
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Clockwork Rotation
Created unique flashing patterns ("characteristics") for lighthouses to be identified.
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Automation (20th C.)
Lamp changers, time clocks, and radiobeacons made the live-in keeper obsolete.
Giants of the Shore
Along low-lying coasts like the Outer Banks, lighthouses had to be exceptionally tall to cast their light over deadly offshore shoals. These towering structures are marvels of 19th-century engineering.
A comparison of the heights of some of the most famous tall lighthouses on the Atlantic coast, measured in feet.
Built for the Elements
Lighthouse architecture was dictated by the environment. Materials and design were chosen to survive everything from North Atlantic gales to the soft, unstable seabeds of the Chesapeake Bay.
Brick & Granite Towers
Stout, powerful towers built to withstand the battering storms of New England and the Outer Banks.
Screw-pile & Caisson
Innovative designs for soft seabeds, where structures were screwed or sunk into the bay floor.
Skeletal Towers
Iron pile structures used on reefs, especially in Florida, to allow storm surge to pass through.
The Enduring Symbol
Though their navigational role is now largely ceremonial, lighthouses remain potent symbols of guidance, safety, and resilience. Hundreds have been preserved as museums and parks, tangible links to our shared maritime heritage.
The Last Sentinel
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By a special act of Congress, Boston Light is the only U.S. lighthouse that remains officially staffed, a living monument to generations of keepers.