By Sue Clark on Mar 2, 2008 in Clover Island, Featured | Comments Off 
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A Lighthouse News Exclusive
Kennewick - A Historical Perspective
Three hundred fifty miles upstream from the mouth of the Columbia River at the junction of the Snake River in Washington State, sits the city of Kennewick. With Richland and Pasco, it’s the largest of the three known as the TriCities. Years ago, it was explored by Lewis and Clark, the first American overland expedition to the Pacific from the mouth of the Missouri River. Nearby is the Sacajawea State Park, the Native American who traveled the entire 4,100 mile route with the group. More recently, in 1996, the city became known for the discovery of the 9,000 year old Kennewick Man, found along the banks of the Columbia.
By Sue Clark on Feb 28, 2008 in News | Comments Off Print This Post
Erosion Straightens Tower
In a reverse to most stories about global warming and erosion damaging our lighthouses, an inactive lighthouse in Estonia, the Kiipsaare Lighthouse on the island of Saaremaa, has actually straightened up due to erosion. The tower, constructed in 1933, began to list to one side (due to erosion) around 1991. A comparison of photos taken in 1981 and 1990 shows that the coastline had eroded at a rate of three meters (about 10 feet) per year. As the water edged closer to the lighthouse, the waves slammed the tower, and sucked the sand from underneath the base. A story in the Batic Times says the return to the straight and narrow was first noticed by a keeper at a nearby nature preservation center on January 25 of this year.
By Sue Clark on Feb 26, 2008 in Featured | Comments Off Print This Post
Twenty People Look Inside Currituck’s House
Although Currituck Lighthouse is open for climbing, the keepers’ house has been shuttered to visitors since it was restored in the 1980s. Last week, the site manager opened the house to twenty visitors for a rare tour through the big house, which sits only fifty feet from the tower. According to a story in the the Virginian Pilot, many more people had to be turned away. Over 100,000 climb the tower each year, but most can only see the house from the top, as in the picture to the left.
By Sue Clark on Feb 25, 2008 in News | Comments Off Print This Post
Cape Lookout Closed To Visitors
Dangerously deteriorating conditions on the spiral staircase at Cape Lookout Lighthouse, North Carolina, has led the Cape Lookout National Seashore to suspend all open houses until repairs are completed. The four open houses each year are limited and by reservation only, and are gone within a matter of hours. It was hoped the tours would be able to be continued while restoration work took place, but an engineering report quelled that idea.
By Sue Clark on Feb 23, 2008 in Featured | Comments Off Print This Post
Are Lighthouses Good For the Economy?
One day, while I was doing docent duty at Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, I had a young fellow ask me (for a school project) how much does a lighthouse contribute to the economy. I told him, a lot, as they are one of the biggest tourist draws for an area. Everyone loves lighthouses, along with wanting to be a lighthouse keeper. One of the most popular searches bringing visitors to this site are “lighthouse jobs.” Well, lighthouse keeper jobs are long gone, but the lure of the dream remains. And at least one country understands the attraction of the night beacons and does all it can to maximize the tourist money. The UK seems to understand the idea of a working lighthouse and tourist dollars.
Three hundred fifty miles upstream from the mouth of the Columbia River at the junction of the Snake River in Washington State, sits the city of Kennewick. With Richland and Pasco, it’s the largest of the three known as the TriCities. Years ago, it was explored by Lewis and Clark, the first American overland expedition to the Pacific from the mouth of the Missouri River. Nearby is the Sacajawea State Park, the Native American who traveled the entire 4,100 mile route with the group. More recently, in 1996, the city became known for the discovery of the 9,000 year old Kennewick Man, found along the banks of the Columbia.
