Lighthouse Construction Types

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Gurnet Point (Plymouth Light), MA (National Archives photo)

Onshore Lighthouse Construction Types--Wood

Wood is one of the earliest lighthouse construction materials. Towers built before the nineteenth century were built of wood or rubblestone, materials that were readily available. Few early wooden towers survive because of their susceptibility to fire. Shown as part of twin towers at left, Plymouth (Gurnet Point) Lighthouse (1843), in Massachusetts, is one of the earliest surviving wooden towers. Other examples of wooden towers include:

POPLAR POINT LIGHT, RI (1831)
SELKIRK (SALMON RIVER) LIGHT, NY (1838)
JONES POINT LIGHT, VA (1856)
NEW DORP (SWASH CHANNEL RANGE REAR) LIGHT, NY (1856)
CHAPEL HILL RANGE LIGHTS, NJ (1856)
MICHIGAN CITY LIGHT, IN (1858)
RASPBERRY ISLAND LIGHT, WI (1863)
EDIZ HOOK LIGHT, WA (1865)
RACINE HARBOR LIGHT, WI (1866)
BAILEYS HARBOR RANGE LIGHTS, WI (1869)
ROSE ISLAND LIGHT, RI (1870)
GRAND ISLAND EAST CHANNEL LIGHT, MI (1870)
MISSION POINT LIGHT (OLD), MI, (1870)
PLUM ISLAND (PLUM GUT) LIGHT, NY (1870)
POMHAM ROCKS LIGHT (OLD), RI (1871)
YAQUINA BAY LIGHT (OLD), OR (1871)
HAIG POINT (RANGE REAR) LIGHT, SC (1872)
MISPILLION LIGHT (OLD), DE (1873)
HEREFORD INLET LIGHT (OLD), NJ (1874)
POINT FERMIN LIGHT, CA (1874)
EAGLE RIVER LIGHT, MI (1874)
EAST BROTHER ISLAND LIGHT, CA (1874)
YERBA BUENA ISLAND (GOAT ISLAND) LIGHT, CA (1875)
CHEBOYGAN RIVER RANGE FRONT LIGHT, MI (1880)
CONANICUT ISLAND LIGHT (OLD), RI (1886)
WINGS NECK LIGHT, MA (1889)
GASPARILLA ISLAND (BOCA GRANDE) LIGHT, FL (1890)
SAN LUIS OBISPO (PORT HARFORD) LIGHT, CA (1890)
PROSPECT HARBOR POINT LIGHT, ME (1891)
THREE SISTERS LIGHTS (THREE TOWERS), MA (1892)
TABLE BLUFF LIGHT, CA (1892)
ROUND ISLAND (ST. MARY'S RIVER) LIGHT, (MI) 1892
CAPE POGE (POGUE) LIGHT, MA (1893)
NEWBURYPORT HARBOR (PLUM ISLAND) LIGHT, MA (1898)
PERKINS ISLAND LIGHT, ME (1898)
SQUIRREL POINT LIGHT, ME (1898)
DOUBLING POINT (KENNEBEC RIVER) RANGE LIGHTS, ME (1898)
BRANT POINT LIGHT, MA (1901)
ST. JOSEPH POINT RANGE REAR LIGHT, FL (1902)
ELDRED ROCK LIGHT, AK (1905)
MUKILTEO LIGHT, WA (1906)
BURROWS ISLAND LIGHT, WA (1906)
CUCKOLDS (THE) LIGHT, ME (1907)
PATOS ISLAND LIGHT, WA (1908)
POINT CABRILLO LIGHT ,CA (1909)
POINT BLUNT LIGHT, CA (1956)

Last Modified: Mon, Dec 10 2001 2:56:48 pm EDT
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