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Lighthouses: Beacons of a Bygone Era?By KRISTEN STERNBERG | NIE Educational Consultant Lighthouses are witnesses to a rich history of ocean adventure and misadventure. Oceans provide opportunities for exploration, trade and recreation, among other uses. A sea voyage can be an exciting adventure. It can also be very, very dangerous. Historical documents are filled with accounts of ships lost at sea. Many of these shipwrecks tragically occurred near land, as ships foundered on reefs, submerged rocks or other hazards.
Using a signal light to warn ships of danger is an idea that's thousands of years old. Ancient Egyptians lit bonfires of wood on hilltops to serve as warning beacons. Later, others placed fires inside buildings-and "lighthouses" were born! (Do you see how the word came about?) Their signals help ship captains keep away from danger spots. Once, lighthouse keepers climbed their circular tower steps daily, carrying heavy loads of whale oil, or later, kerosene to keep the lights burning. Now, most towers are automated with timed electric signals, and are maintained by the United States Coast Guard through scheduled visits. Sadly, many say, the job of lighthouse keeping is almost extinct. Some help keep those bygone times alive by learning more about lighthouses. A person who studies lighthouses is called a pharologist. That name comes from one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World--a lighthouse called Pharos, built in Alexandria, Egypt. Pharologists think lighthouses are pretty interesting. Some study their architecture, or building style. Some like to uncover the personal histories of lighthouse keepers and some study artifacts washed ashore following historic shipwrecks. Lighthouses have also inspired many authors to write stories about them. You might check with your school media specialist, or a local librarian, if you like reading about lighthouses. A reporter for The News-Journal has recently visited several interesting lighthouses along the coast of Florida, and his articles are full of information. For example, did you know that one lighthouse's beam might be seen by a ship as far as 23 miles out to sea? Check out the reporter's neat stories about Amelia Light, the two towers at Mayport and the St. Augustine Lighthouse. You can find out more about area lighthouses you can visit as you complete the newspaper activities and visit the Web sites provided below. Try these interesting activities using The News-Journal
Question 1: When does the next high tide occur? Question 2: At what time did the sun rise? Question 3: Which is longer-day, or night? Question 4: What wave heights have been predicted for the next day? Question 5: How warm (or how cold) is the water temperature?
A copy of Florida's Sunshine State Standards can be found at intech2000.miamisci.org. Check out these links to learn more For a brief history of lighthouses, along with a great illustration of the inside of a lighthouse tower, visit this History of a Modern Lighthouse.
The U.S. Coast Guard has played a large role in our nation's lighthouses. Follow the links to a History of U.S. Lightships (ships serving as lighthouses) as well as to interesting lighthouse facts - which is the tallest American lighthouse? Which is the oldest? There are many interesting and historic lighthouses around the world. Take a look at just a few examples by starting with these photographs of Lights of Ireland. In the United States, New England lighthouses are honored at this site that includes their photos and histories. At a Web site about Ponce Inlet Light, you can take a virtual tour of one of our area's fascinating lighthouses, now a historical museum. While lighthouse have been credited with saving ships many times over, the world has a rich history of ships wrecked by storms or other conditions. Take a look at the world's oldest known, deep sea shipwrecks by following the link. Then, narrow your field of interest by checking out shipwrecks closer to home, such as this index of more recent shipwrecks in the Florida Keys. Find out what kinds of goods the ships lost! The Florida Division of Historical Resources also has some neat pages about Florida shipwrecks, including an exciting description of the infamous Emanuel Point Shipwreck. The Newspaper Association of America's web site contains links to many newspapers in the U.S. and around the world. Visit the site and check some of them out, to see if they have recently published any articles about historic lighthouses. To access the newspapers at the site, select a state. Click on the "Internationals" button to view choices from other countries. The Daytona Beach News-Journal NIE Program, published July 30, 2001. |
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