United States Lighthouse Society

The United States Lighthouse Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to aiding in the restoration of American lighthouses and educating the public about their history. With four chapters, and more than a dozen affiliates, it is one of the largest and oldest lighthouse organizations in the world.[4][5]

United States Lighthouse Society
Formation1984
HeadquartersHansville, Washington
Official language
English
President
Wayne Wheeler[1]
Key people
Jeff Gales (Executive-Director)[2]
Budget
$732,294 (2012)[3]
Websiteuslhs.org

History

Founded in 1984 by Wayne Wheeler and initially headquartered in San Francisco, California, one of the United States Lighthouse Society's first major projects was the purchase of the lightship LV605 in 1986 from a private individual. The organization subsequently invested $400,000 and more than 40,000 volunteer hours in the preservation and restoration of the vessel. In 2003 the society received the California Governor's Historic Preservation Award for its work on the ship.[6]

The society relocated from California to Hansville, Washington in 2008, siting its headquarters at the historic Point No Point Lighthouse, which it rented from Kitsap County (the county, in turn, leased the lighthouse from the U.S. Coast Guard, before ultimately purchasing it in 2012).[7][8]

Since 2008, the United States Lighthouse Society has been headquartered in the historic "Keeper's House" on the grounds of the Point No Point Light (shown here) in Hansville, Washington.

In 2009 the U.S. Lighthouse Society was recognized as a "Preserve America Steward," one of the first 11 cultural and historic organizations designated to receive the Bureau of Land Management-sponsored award in recognition of "a successful use of volunteer time and commitment."[9] The society launched a partnership with clothing brand Lands' End in 2014. Under the terms of the deal, Lands' End made a donation of $30,000 to support restoration of the Block Island Southeast Lighthouse in Block Island, Rhode Island.[10]

Activities

Preservation

The society actively raises money and organizes volunteers to preserve and restore four historic lighthouses: the Point No Point Lighthouse in Washington state, Hooper Island Lighthouse in Maryland, Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse in Maryland, and Lightship LV605, currently moored in Oakland, California.[5]

Publications

The society publishes a quarterly print magazine, The Keepers' Log, about the history of lighthouses in the United States. A second quarterly publication, Lighthouse Bulletin, chronicles society activities and is distributed in PDF format via email.[11]

Travel

The United States Lighthouse Society organizes several one-to-two-week tours of historic lighthouses during the spring and early autumn for members and non-members. In 2014 tours were scheduled in eastern Michigan, Massachusetts, Maine, the Outer Banks, Long Island, and along the St. Lawrence River.[12]

References
  1. Corporations Division. "Registration Data Search: United States Lighthouse Society". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  2. "Top Bid for Tallest New England Lighthouse is $78K". Boston: WCVB-TV. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  3. "United States Lighthouse Society". Guidestar. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  4. Jones, Ray (2013). The Lighthouse Encyclopedia. Globe Pequot Press. p. 274. ISBN 978-0762786701.
  5. "About". United States Lighthouse Society. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  6. "Lightship Free to Good Home". Lighthouse Digest. August 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  7. Martinez, Joe (August 8, 2012). "Point No Point Lighthouse Will Soon Belong to County". Kitsap Sun. Archived from the original on February 9, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  8. "Welcome". Friends of Point No Point Lighthouse. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  9. Moody, Joan; Jorjan, Aimee; Milhans, Bruce. "Preserve America Grants in 17 States Announced; First Preserve America Stewards Designees Announced" (Press release). U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  10. "Lands' End Marks Heritage of Sustainability with Launch of Lighthouse Restoration Program" (Press release). Lands' End. Retrieved August 31, 2014 – via PR Newswire.
  11. "'Keeper's Log'". United States Lighthouse Society. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  12. "Tours and Expeditions". United States Lighthouse Society. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
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