History

Timeline Overview

A concise sequence of how lighthouse construction, service, and preservation evolved along the northern coast.

1820s–1840s

First masonry towers established

Stone lights were raised at hazardous headlands to guide coastal trade and fishing routes.

1860s–1880s

Lens technology expanded reach

Imported Fresnel optics intensified beams, making night passage safer through fog-prone channels.

Close archival detail of a weathered lighthouse lens prism with warm brass housing
Inset: prism glass and brass assembly from a preserved coastal lantern room.

1900s–1930s

Keeper stations became community hubs

Families, supply crews, and signal logs linked remote towers to nearby working harbors.

1950s–1970s

Automation reduced full-time staffing

Electric beacons and remote controls gradually replaced daily manual lamp and fog-signal routines.

1980s–Today

Preservation era and public access

Historical societies stabilized surviving towers and opened archives, tours, and restoration records.