Not long after winning their independence from Mexico in 1836, Texans began clamoring for lighthouses. Hundreds of miles of barrier islands, shifting sandbars, and shallow bays made the Texas coast treacherous at a time when few overland routes provided access to the new republic. Beginning in 1852, twenty-eight lighthouses were built along the Texas coastline, on land and over water. Lighthouse service was often a family affair, with husbands, wives, and children working together as keepers and assistants. For nearly 70 years, construction continued as coastal erosion, hurricanes, and wars regularly damaged or destroyed those lighthouses already built. These sentinels of the sea lessened but did not eliminate the chance of shipwreck, so lifesaving stations, manned by able seamen with unsinkable surfboats, were established as well. As Texass lighthouses were gradually automated throughout the 20th century, many were sold to private owners or abandoned. Today, several have been restored, and twoat Aransas Pass and Port Isabelstill function as aids to navigation.--Amazon.come.

"What Moby-Dick is to whales, Brilliant Beacons is to lighthouses—a transformative account of a familiar yet mystical subject." —Laurence Bergreen, author of Columbus: The Four Voyages In this "magnificent compendium" (New Republic), best-selling author Eric Jay Dolin presents the definitive history of American lighthouses, and in so doing "illuminate[s] the history of America itself" (Entertainment Weekly). Treating readers to a memorable cast of characters and "fascinating anecdotes" (New York Review of Books), Dolin shows how the story of the nation, from a regional backwater colony to global industrial power, can be illustrated through its lighthouses—from New England to the Gulf of Mexico, the Great Lakes, the Pacific Coast, and all the way to Alaska and Hawaii. A Captain and Classic Boat Best Nautical Book of 2016

From the Maryland shore to the Florida Panhandle and across the Gulf Coast, the 50 lighthouses profiled in this volume have stood sentinel through a thousand stormy nights. In magnificent photos and in fascinating narrative, this beautiful book captures the tumultuous history and enigmatic power of these life-saving beacons of the sea. 85 photos, 55 in color. 5 maps.

A history of the lighthouse which examines its technical development in the United States

For more than two centuries, lighthouses have helped sailors find their way through treacherous waters, guiding them home or taking them safely through passages on their way to adventure. These historic towers and houses form a sparkling chain of lights along our coasts, a reminder of the past echoing with adventure and mystery, a lure for travelers looking for a glimpse into a romantic past. American Lighthouses offers more than just a tour of over 450 beautiful and historic navigational beacons dotting the coasts and lakes of the United States. This fully illustrated, one-of-a-kind handbook details their history and architecture and provides full information on visiting or viewing them.

In a charming blend of history and human interest, this book paints a colorful portrait of the lives of a vanished breed—the lighthouse keepers—from the year 1716, when the first lighthouse was established in America, to the early 1980s when automation replaced the last human “guardian of the light." A wealth of material from the archives of the 19th and 20th centuries—primarily letters, diaries, and newspaper accounts—provides vivid stories about lighthouse keeping in this country: the daily work; coping with fog, storms and other catastrophes; legends and ghosts; women's and families' roles; lighthouse children and pets; the natural world around lighthouses; and the diverse characters of those who held the job. Lighthouse keeping was a unique occupation, now obsolete, and this book is a fitting tribute to these tough, usually solitary, and dedicated heroes who kept the lights burning every night, without fail.

A celebration of the great American lighthouses, their keepers, their histories, and their ongoing stories For more than two centuries, lighthouses have helped sailors find their way through treacherous waters, guiding them home or taking them safely through passages on their way to adventure. These historic towers and houses form a sparkling chain of lights along our coasts, a reminder of the past echoing with adventure and mystery, a lure for travelers looking for a glimpse into a romantic past. Completely revised and updated, American Lighthouses offers more than just a tour of 450 beautiful and historic navigational beacons dotting the coasts and lakes of the United States. This fully illustrated, one-of-a-kind handbook details their history and architecture and provides full information on visiting or viewing them. Included are many endangered lights, threatened by erosion or lack of funding, as well as “ghost lights,” which are no longer standing.

A wealth of facts and history fill this beautifully designed armchair and reference book. This single volume, packed with full-color and vintage photos, contains everything a lighthouse lover or maritime historian wants to know about lighthouse history, changing technologies, lighthouse keepers, and the lenses themselves. A detailed index of more than 150 lighthouses around the world offers quick and easy access to basic information—know the height, age, elevation, optic type and status for every lighthouse! An appendix listing lighthouse groups nationwide makes it easy to see these historic treasures, visit museums and get involved with preservation. See how the appearance or location of lights has changed over time. Read about the historical contributions made by Augustin Fresnel, Winslow Lewis and Stephen Pleasanton, and learn about breakwater lights, caissons, lightships, mercury baths, daymarks and clamshell lenses. The most complete reference book on lighthouses—which won a Benjamin Franklin book design award in hardcover—is finally available in paperback. Ray Jones is a leading authority on lighthouses and the author of more than 14 books and countless magazine articles on American history. He lives in Pebble Beach, California.