History overview

A chronological frame of the northern coast’s lighthouse legacy

Five turning points that shaped navigation, communities, and preservation along the shore.

  1. 1798

    First beacon commissioned

    A timber light station opened at Cape Blackwater to guide fishing fleets through reef channels.

  2. 1834–1860

    Stone tower expansion era

    Permanent masonry towers replaced temporary lamps as shipping traffic and storm losses increased.

  3. 1892

    Fresnel optics introduced

    New lens systems extended visibility offshore and standardized light signatures across the coast.

  4. 1938–1956

    Automation and radio transition

    Remote controls and radio beacons reduced staffing while keepers documented daily life in detail.

  5. 1979–Today

    Preservation and public archive period

    Community trusts restored surviving towers and opened photographs, logs, and oral records to visitors.

Read a Keeper Story