Traveling Lighthouses

Would it be wonderful to have a lighthouse that was built in your honor? Fort George or more famously known as Baron Bliss lighthouse was built and named in remembrance of Baron Bliss, a Philanthropist from England.  At age 42, he became paralyzed and was unable to walk.  He then acquired a yacht called the "Sea King" and fished around the area.   When he got sick at age 57, he invited the local governor aboard his yacht and told him that he intended to give his fortune to the nation of Belize, because he was impressed with the people's warm hospitality. When he died in March 1926, he wished on his will to be buried in a granite tomb near the sea, enclosed with an iron fence, and with a lighthouse built nearby. His wish was granted. So this monument was built as a welcoming beacon and a memorial to a "man who deeply loved the sea and demonstrated great caring for those who showed him kindness and hospitality in his last days." Belize...

It took me a while to visit the oldest existing lighthouse in the state of Florida. Amelia lighthouse is standing at the highest point on the island.  It was built in 1839 from bricks re-used from the Cumberland Island Lighthouse in Georgia. The tower was originally 50 ft, and in 1881 a lantern was installed increasing its height to 64 feet. The lens that was replaced in 1903 is still used in the lighthouse. This light remains in operation, but the structure is now a private residence.  The ownership of the lighthouse was transferred from the US Coast Guard to the City of Fernandina Beach in 2001.  Access to the lighthouse is limited and is not open to public, but the grounds is open for viewing. Our journey to this lighthouse started with my car riding a ferry boat. Wow, it's a milestone for my car to ride a ferry. We were excited but was surprised with the very short ride of 10 minutes for $6. It could have been more exciting if it was longer. I...

It was nice weekend weather, so me and my son decided to drive to Georgia to see this lighthouse. History says there was an original lighthouse which was built in 1810. During the civil war, the retreating troops destroyed it. The US government constructed this lighthouse to replace the original one.  It was completed in 1872,  has a 104 feet brick structure, with 129 steps of spiral stairway. The lighthouse is believed to be "haunted by the ghost of lightkeeper Frederick Osborne. He was killed in a fight with his assistant keeper John Stephens. The story says that Osborne who was a chronic faultfinder, made an inapporiate remark to Stephen's wife.  Osborne was killed by Stephen with a shotgon, but he was subsequently acquited. Stephen reported hearing footsteps ascending and descending the tower steps and blamed it on Osborne's ghost. A former keeper in 1910, Carl Svendsen and some Coast Guardmen have also reported sounds on the steps.   The ...

My daughter wanted to travel to Fort Lauderdale. We planned this trip, so that my older son could visit more places.  Fort Lauderdale was a good choice. I always have to negotiate with my kids, that if we travel to a place that I've been and they wanted to see, we need to see a lighthouse so I can benefit from the trip.  It's a joke, but as their mom, they are compelled to follow my wishes. Sometimes, they say "we have no choice." Hillsboro Inlet was constructed in Detroit, Michigan and shipped to it's current location.  It was built in 1906 and was first illuminated in 1907. History says that "this light was very much needed by vessels bound through the Florida straits into the Gulf of Mexico or to the island of Cuba." According to the records as well, "in the second half of the 20th century, this inlet was considered one of the most powerful lights in the world."  The fresnel was developed by French physicist Augu...