Lighthouse Calendars
Special Historic Sites
It seems that everyone enjoys a lighthouse! There is something about that beacon shining out to sea that holds a fascination for many people. There are wonderful stories of romance, shipwrecks, and history associated with lighthouse.
I have always been fascinated by these interesting structures. For many years ship's captains depended on lighthouses to help them navigate around the coast. Today modern technology has eliminated the need for many of the lighthouses, but interested groups of people have worked to restore these structures that are such an interesting part of history.
In this lens I will bring you a collection of calendars featuring lighthouses. Some are from my own collection of lighthouse photographs and others are ones I found that looked interesting.
These calendars would make great gifts for that lighthouse enthusiast on your gift list.
photograph of Two Harbors Lighthouse by Mary Beth Granger
Calendars for the Coming Year
Lighthouse calendars contain popular scenes that are enjoyed by many people. These calendars make great gifts that last all year long. Just think of all your friends and relatives who enjoy lighthouses and pick out the perfect calendar for them. A colorful wall calendar is great and for some a pocket engagement calendar will be just perfect.
Great Lakes
Traveling the shores of the Great Lakes gives you a great opportunity to see a wide variety of different lighthouses. The Great Lakes were a major shipping avenue in early America and their rocky shores could be disastrous for shipwrecks. Because of this dangerous lighthouses were built throughout the 1800's and early 1900's. They provided a beam to steer the ships away from the dangerous shores and were also a navigational guide in the days before GPS.
I have visited many of these lighthouses and each one has its own unique personality. Some are really small houses with an attached tower, while others are taller conical towers with a keepers house nearby. Because of the rough winters the keepers lived either in or close to the lighthouse so they could getting the lights lit.
Marblehead Lighthouse on Lake Erie - click on photo to enlarge
Click thumbnail to view full-size
Lighthouses Guide the Way
Before modern GPS, lighthouses were particularly important both to guide the ships and to let the captains know where they were located. The lighthouses of the Outer Banks are each painted differently so ships captains can know where they are along the coast.
Florida Coastal Lights
The state of Florida has many historic lights that dot the shoreline. To the north on the Atlantic shore you will find one of the oldest lights at St. Augustine. This classic black and white lighthouse with a red dome guided ships in the past and today welcomes visitors to climb the tower.
A bit further south you will find Florida's tallest lighthouse at Ponce DeLeon. It is a bright red color. Another red lighthouse that is a favorite of mine is the lighthouse at Jupiter Inlet Florida. This lighthouse has a colorful history and was important in guiding ships along the inlet waterways.
To the south on Key Biscayne you come upon a stately white lighthouse at Cape Florida. All of these lighthouse and more are a colorful part of Florida's history.
