Lighthouses have the distinct purpose of steering you clear of them, keeping you a safe distance away. I don’t know about you, but whenever I’m in a coastal location, they instead really draw me in. Fortunately, I’m usually on the land side.
Much of the appeal for me is the setting. It’s often remote and by nature a little mysterious with a hint of danger. I can always imagine a mystery novel set there on a stormy night, maybe with the lighthouse keeper as a central character. And then there’s the uniqueness that seals the deal for me. No two seem the same, even when they’re near each other.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has measured the United States coastline, including Alaska, Hawaii, all territories, and the shorelines of the Great Lakes, at 95,471 miles. That’s a lot of room for lighthouses! And we know the U.S. is just a starting point if you want to see them all.
Maybe you want to visit some, or maybe you’d like to be an armchair traveler. Either way, here are some lighthouse books to guide your way:
- Lighthouse: An Illuminating History of the World's Coastal Sentinels by R.G. Grant. Features 100 of the most beautiful and structurally innovative lighthouses of 1700-1900 in words and stunning photographs.
- Brilliant Beacons: a History of the American Lighthouse by Eric Jay Dolin. Traces the evolution of America's lighthouse system, highlighting the political, military, and technological battles fought to illuminate the nation's rocky coastlines.
- Lighthouses of North America: Beacons from Coast to Coast by Sylke Jackson. Highlights over 70 lighthouses in the United States and Canada with photographs, facts, and figures. A good guide to take on a lighthouse visiting trip.
- Women Who Kept the Lights: An Illustrated History of Female Lighthouse Keepers by Mary Louise Clifford. Recounts the careers of 30 women who were official keepers of light stations on the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific Coasts, on Lake Champlain and the Great Lakes, staying at their posts for periods ranging from a few years to half a century.
- Pacific Coasting by Danielle Kroll. Guidebook to planning the ultimate road trip along the Pacific Coastline, with the best places on the coast to stop along the way, including Oregon's lighthouses.
There’s also the United States Lighthouse Society, where you can find lists of lighthouses by state, including some you can spend the night in, as well as tons of historical information.
Library tip of the month: Did you get a new device recently? Or, maybe you'd like to try out the Libby app to read eBooks? We're here if you need help getting started. We can schedule a time for a staff member to help you. Request an appointment with library staff online or by calling 360-906-5000.
Janet Alder is Marketing and Communications Coordinator with Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries, which has 15 locations in Clark, Skamania, Klickitat, and Cowlitz Counties. Call 360-906-5000 or visit the library district website for more information.
A version of this column first appeared in The Messenger, April 2023.
Find more book columns in our Off the Shelf blog.
