Episodes

Throughout American history, the responsibility of lighthouses have fallen on many different shoulders - it can get confusing, even for us! In this episode, Vince breaks down how lighthouses have changed hands over the years and how the USLHS (which we rely on heavily for our research) came to be! Listen in for how the United States Lighthouse Society, a hub of lighthouse information, does incredible work towards the preservation of our lighthouses today! Liked this episode? Leave us a review o...

A lighthouse is often summoned in history by a devastating storm, and this was true as well for Split Rock Lighthouse. Perched on the edge of a 130 ft cliff, the light is one of the most photographed in the US. Enjoyed the episode? Leave us a review on our website thelighthouselowdown.com References: Split Rock Lighthouse | Wikipedia Minnesota Historical Society Website Split Rock Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends Franklin Covell Keeper Bio

The way to a lighthouse on the narrowest point between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron was a long one, and ended with two lighthouses instead of one! Listen in for the story of the 1890 castle-esque Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and how a bridge took it out of service. Happy New Year to all of our listeners! Leave us a review on our website: thelighthouselowdown.com References: Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse | Lighthouse Friends Mackinac State Historic Parks Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse | Wikiped...

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to our followers! Each lighthouse celebrates this season differently, so we're bringing you a festive Christmas tradition from three different lighthouses that we've covered this year. Entered into our giveaway? Check your email to see if you won! References: St. Augustine Lighthouse shows off historical Christmas displays Light the Lighthouse | Montauk Historical Society Harbormaster Edward Michels | East Hampton Star Lighthouse Illuminations - Tide, Tidin...

Hello everyone! We are just popping in to give a reminder about our current giveaway - listen in to find out how to enter to win a Lighthouse Lowdown Stanley cup!

GIVEAWAY EPISODE! Curious as to why they would name a cape and subsequent lighthouse this way? The truth will not...disappoint. Listen in for the story of a lighthouse (and land) that caused a lot of trouble for maritime crews and our keepers. Also, find out how to enter our giveaway for our first Lighthouse Lowdown merchandise! Liked this episode? Leave us a review on thelighthouselowdown.com References: Remembering the wreck of the Oriole : The Ship Report Cape Disappointment Lighthouse...

Yes, plural! In this episode we cover a set of very different but equally stunning range lights on the Grand Haven South Pier. Listen in for how a foghorn building became a lighthouse, some incredible uses for reinforced concrete, and for our favorite unique light characteristics in action today (hint: we love red!). Like this episode? Leave us a review on thelighthouselowdown.com References: The Montauk Lighthouse Gets Its Lens Back Coast Guard Returns Fresnel Lens to Montauk Point Lighthouse...

St. Augustine Lighthouse is an often-photographed tower that is visually very similar in appearance to Cape Hatteras Light, aside from its bright red lantern room. The designs for this light are virtually identical to Bodie Island and Currituck Lighthouses, though the first form of St. Augustine Lighthouse dates back to the 1500's and looks very different from today! Listen in for the stories of it's past renovations, shattered Fresnel lenses, and its permanent residents that bring revenue to th...

Ready to spook your socks off?! In this episode we cover the history of Marquette Harbor Light, a bright red integral lighthouse that has had its fair share of death, drama, and transformations! In a special twist, the second half of this podcast is an interview with Susan Hill (member of the Marquette Maritime Museum Board of Directors) and Trish Kautz (Founder of Yooper Paranormal investigators), who run paranormal tours at the lighthouse! Listen in to hear the chilling stories from inside the...

Ever wonder what Where's Waldo would look like as a lighthouse? Well, look no further! This adorable light tower is the only candy-striped lighthouse in the US and is also the furthest east point in the country as well. A fan of this episode? Please leave a review on our website thelighthouselowdown.comReferences: https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=506 https://westquoddy.com/ https://uslhs.org/fun/lighthouse-accommodations/maine https://uslhs.org/light_lists/light_lists.php?notify=Y

If you've watched the movie Forrest Gump, then you've seen this lighthouse! We would definitely recommend seeing it in person though, on account of its beautiful walkway, granite base, and killer keeper's cottage. Listen in for some "shocking" recent history on this beautiful Maine lighthouse! Give us a review on our website: thelighthouselowdown.com References: https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=529 https://www.marshallpoint.org/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/08/...

People say that if you were to visit one lighthouse in your life, Montauk Point would be the one to go to! Decorated with a beautiful main gallery railing and bold red stripe, Montauk Point Lighthouse has survived nearly 227 years in service. A renovation started in 2019 was just completed, and you can check out its retired 3rd-and-a-half order bivalve Fresnel lens in their museum! Visit our website to watch videos of our podcast and leave a review: thelighthouselowdown.com References:https://us...

Sanibel Island Lighthouse is the first skeleton lighthouse that we've covered, and is known for shelling, the "Sanibel Stoop", and a story of resilience. The lighthouse in its deconstructed form once rested on the ocean floor, and against all odds it refuses to return. Listen in for the story of a lighthouse that stood strong through Florida's worst storms. Check out our new website and leave a review! thelighthouselowdown.com References: The Thunderstorm Whisperers: A History of Lightning Rod...

We are bringing you another listener lighthouse this Monday and are once again headed over to California to look at Point Arena Light! This tower had a drastic makeover to acclimate it to its environmental conditions, as well as the biggest keepers dwelling I'd ever seen! And did I mention you can get married in the lantern room? Check out our new website: thelighthouselowdown,com There you can send us voicemails and emails about lighthouses you'd like for us to cover! References: https://po...

Happy National Lighthouse Day! Snake Island Lighthouse (Ukraine) is built on land with an incredible ancient history dating back to 5th century BC and is also making history today. Listen in for the story of the transmission response that signified Ukraine's resilience in todays war, plus a skosh of Greek mythology! Check out our new website: thelighthouselowdown.com Here is the link to the USLHS Lighthouse Day competition: https://uslhs.org/dance-contest References: /www.trinityhouse.co.uk/ab...

If you have a fear of snakes, steer clear of this episode because we do a deep dive into the inhabitants of Snake Island, and how they may have offed the keepers that used to man it's lighthouse. Please check out our new website thelighthouselowdown.com and leave a message for a lighthouse you'd like to hear about!

DISCLAIMER: This episode is very light on lighthouse information - if you enjoy listening to friends chat over some lighthouse themed beverages, this is the episode for you!Listen in and learn more (maybe too much) about your hosts as Vince whips up some special lighthouse cocktails for us and our newly wed friends Nathan and Monica. Follow us on our social media through this link: linktr.ee/thelighthouselowdownWatch our YouTube to see how each drink was made!

Ahoy sailors! We are back from our trip around the world to bring you another international subject. What do you get when you combine hikers and lighthouses? O Camiño dos Faros, or The Lighthouse Way! This trek along the coast of Spain provides access to many different lighthouses, but as you'll hear in this podcast, you have to work for it!Check out our social media and the YouTube video for this episode: linktr.ee/thelighthouselowdownReferences:Hiking Spain’s luminous Lighthouse Way - The Wash...

Next stop in our international travel is Japan to visit the Nomazaki Lighthouse or Noma Lighthouse! Lighthouses in Japan are relatively young compared to other countries and heavily influenced by Scottish lighthouse design. Noma is barely a century old, but still has legends surrounding it focused on relationships and love.Check us out on our socials: linktr.ee/thelighthouselowdownReferences:Nomazaki Lighthouse (Mihama) Essential Tips and Information (trek.zone) Nomazaki Lighthouse - Wikipedia N...

Sweden is home to many fascinating and historical sights, including Landsorts Fyr, the lighthouse of Öja Island. This is the oldest lighthouse in Sweden made by Swedish hands, and the second oldest lighthouse in the country! Listen to us struggle once again with pronunciation as we talk about Landsorts Lighthouse's several-century-long lifespan and the reasons you should visit its beautiful island.Follow us on social media: linktr.ee/thelighthouselowdownReferences:Landsort - lighthouse wiki (fyr...

The name alone strikes fear into the hearts of those that hear it, but the lighthouse was just an unwilling victim of the dark stories behind this island and its past inhabitants. Listen in for stories of fire, murder, a jailbreak, and possibly a tennis court? Follow our social media: linktr.ee/thelighthouselowdown References: Alcatraz Island Lighthouse, California at Lighthousefriends.com The History of Alcatraz (alcatrazhistory.com) Alcatraz Island Lighthouse - Wikipedia Alcatraz Lighthouse ...

Also known as Trinity Buoy Wharf Light, this lighthouse is the only one in London! Surrounded inside and out by strange and goofy attractions, the Blackwall Lighthouse has connections to a famous chemist, 1000-year-long music pieces, and hanged pirates. Follow this link to check out our social media and website:linktr.ee/thelighthouselowdownReferences:https://www.mlive.com/news/2020/11/see-1500-tons-of-rock-being-placed-to-shore-up-beloved-michigan-lighthouse.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R...

This lighthouse may ring a bell when you see it, as it's graced the cover of books, license plates, and chip bags! This episode actually goes through eight different lighthouses, leading up to the current red and white Nauset Light. Listen in to hear how the first 3 lighthouses bit the dust in a watery grave, and how the rest were given new lives. GIVEAWAY EPISODE!! Listen in to this episode to hear how to enter into our giveaway to win a bag of the INCREDIBLE Captain Cecil's ground coffee, all...

Welcome to our first Spanish lighthouse, which happens to be the last lighthouse built in Cantabria, Spain. Faro de Ajo, or Garlic Lighthouse, flew under the radar for most of its existence until one very controversial event put it on the map (for tourists at least) and made it the most colorful lighthouse in the world. Seriously, you're going to want to check out our Instagram for this one! Follow us on social media and check out our YouTube: linktr.ee/thelighthouselowdown References: Sea gla...