Lighthouses - September 2006

I took these photos September 06 in Michigan. It was during our trip to the lighthouses and the climbing of the stairs that I realized how badly I needed to quit smoking.

Check out http://www.uscg.mil/history/WEBLIGHTHOUSES/lighthouse_curriculum.html for some great lighthouse facts.

Here are just a few facts:

*There were never more than 850 lighthouses in operation at once, although about 1,500 were constructed in this country over the years. The hey-day was around 1910. There were 220 constructed on the U.S. shores of the Great Lakes. Michigan had the most with ca. 90 followed by Maine with about 80.

* The first fog signal in this country, a cannon, was at the Boston Lighthouse. Other fog signals have been whistles, sirens, reed trumpets, bells, diaphone (BEEEEooooh) horns and diaphragm (brrrrrrrrr) horns.

*There were many female lighthouse keepers (U.S. Lighthouse Society has files on 80), but most obtained their position when their spouses or male relatives died or became incapacitated.

*The most powerful optic produces a light seen 25 miles at sea. Although aircraft have reported picking up a light at 40 or 50 miles.

I hope you enjoyed the photos and the facts!

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• pookie
• fort
• wayne
• lighthouse
• michigan

[JustASeed]

Added to my lighthouse catalog! I have a wish to make a lighthouse tour around the world someday. Thanks for this one! :)

[Pookieftw]

No Problem. I hope your wish comes true. I plan to do some traveling this summer and possibly to see some new lighthouses. Happy Holidays to you JustASeed!

[ziggyzoomba49]

First...thanks for letting me revisit some of the lights I saw in Michigan and I believe these were on the Lake Michigan side. I've also seen most on the Lake Huron side in which I've made some nice Powerpoint shows of. 2nd...since we vacationed in Maine I question they have over 60 lighthouses as I remember seeing 7 or 8.

[Pookieftw]

Thanks ziggyzoomba49. I'm glad to share these wonderful sights. I hope to get to see the lighthouses in Maine someday. I replaced the audio to this video because it had a few bad facts. I did find MI to have the most lighthouses at 90. Maine has 80. I found a great resource about lighthouses which I placed in the description to the right of the video. I think you will enjoy them too. Thanks again and have a happy holiday season!

[ziggyzoomba49]

Pookieftw..In the event you ever get to Maine..and believe me..it's worth the trip, 2 of my favorite lighthouses were Pemaquid Point and Cape Elizabeth..both with very picturesque settings. Another great area in Maine is the Bar Harbor (pronounced Bah Habah by the locals). Gave me my 1st chance to go whale watching (since we rarely see them in Lake Eire..lol). Something I've also started is collecting lighthouse figurines of ones we've visited by buying them on Ebay.

[Pookieftw]

I will definately keep those locations in mind. I have yet to plan my vacation for next year and honestly I think Maine would be a great destination. I haven't been there before and I love the accent too!

[rdevicsaint]

Beautiful photos. Chris

[davethewebbuilder]

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Love the lighthouses, good work

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[pointsur]

on the coast of maine, they have Boone Island Light. it was probably the most INHOSPITIBLE lighthouse assingment. i would sail out ther to see it just for that fact.

[mamamialove]

Thanks for the info. One day I want to just go on a lighthouse tour...Iam fascinated with them...