Lighthouses are built on soft sand, mud, rock outcroppings, and land bars that jut out into the sea. They are built in places where there is a good view of an ocean or river and their light is visible for miles around. Weather conditions, such as fog, can sometimes limit the usefulness of the light and sounds such as horns and sirens are used and can be heard for several miles.

History

Egyptians ignited fires on high hilltops to guide their ships through the Nile River at night. When the amount of ships traveling the Nile increased the Egyptians built stone towers to serve as lighthouses.

One of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Pharos of Alexandria, also known as the Lighthouse of Alexandria, was a lighthouse built by the Egyptians and was once the tallest man-made structure on Earth. This lighthouse was built on the island of Pharos near Alexandria and was about 440 feet high. At the top of the tower several open fires were kept burning at night. This beacon was used for about 1,500 years. Two earthquakes destroyed the lighthouse in the 1300’s.

The first modern lighthouse was built on the famous Eddystone Rock outside Plymouth and was constructed by John Smeaton in 1759. John Smeaton built the lighthouse out of large blocks of interlocking stones that were held together by iron bars. The lighthouse was built on top of a submerged foundation.

Today some lighthouses are still in operation and maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard and others are no longer in operation but are maintained by their communities and are visited by people around the globe. There are hundreds of lighthouses to visit within the United States and there are too many to list in one article. Below is a brief list of lighthouses on the Atlantic Coast to begin your journey. For a more comprehensive list visit the Maritime Heritage Program’s website at www.cr.nps.gov/maritime.

Lighthouses To Visit: North Atlantic Coast