Linda’s Monthly Monday Morning Moaning’s for Monday, February 3, 2025.
Twenty-five years later:
The NHLPA or better known as the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act was passed in October of 2000. For the nation’s lighthouse heritage, this became an important step in the needed preservation of many of these historic treasurers. This law became an amendment to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which gave the government a way to dispose of the lighthouse property it owned, while still persevering the architectural and historic aspects of the lighthouse property. As it turns out this act is why we have a National Register of Historic Places and a list of Historic Landmarks.
This new act made it possible for non-profit organizations to participate with equal footing along with local and federal agencies in the process to acquire these properties. This was needed because there were non-profits that had put a lot of time, and money into the preservation of certain lighthouses and they should be able to benefit from that, when the properties were deemed excess by the United States Coast Guard. This would only benefit lighthouses that were listed as historic. Maintenance of the property, was done by the non-profits, while allowing the Coast Guard access to and responsibility for the light, then the use of the property for educational, cultural and recreational purposes, and providing access to the general public, as well as compliance with historic preservation guidelines could still be done.
Above, two of the many lighthouses that have been helped in the 25 years that the program has been in effect. Since 2022, the NHLPA program has resulted in the transfer of 43 lighthouse to non-profits, the auction of 70 lighthouses to private citizens, and also the transfer of 25 lighthouses to local governments. This generating the ability for many of these lighthouses to be opened to the public, and the education value of teaching the importance these lighthouse had to the maritime life they helped. These saved lighthouse have gone on to have roles as museums, Bed & Breakfast’s, research stations, and retreats.
The challenge of keeping these lighthouses in good repair is not an inexpensive situation, no matter who is the caretaker of the lighthouse, they must be prepared to deal with a lot of challenges, not the least of which, is Mother Nature at her best. The price you pay to walk the steps of those lighthouses, has far more importance that we can imagine. Next time you are out on a beautiful day, go see a lighthouse and walk the steps!
It is with much courtesy and a thank you that I mention, Anne Puppa, for use of her very well written and important article about the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act, NHLPA, 25 Years Later, in Lighthouse Digest, January- February 2025. Postcard images used, courtesy of this author.
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Linda Osborne Cynowa 