''Lighthouse Digest'', a specialty magazine from FogHorn Publishing in East Machias,

Maine Maine ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the United States, and the northeasternmost state in the Contiguous United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and ...

, is about

maritime history Maritime history is the study of human interaction with and activity at sea. It covers a broad thematic element of history that often uses a global approach, although national and regional histories remain predominant. As an academic subject, it ...

with particular attention to the

preservation Preservation may refer to: Heritage and conservation * Preservation (library and archival science), activities aimed at prolonging the life of a record while making as few changes as possible * ''Preservation'' (magazine), published by the Nat ...

lighthouses A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. Lighthouses mark ...

and their past. Though it is geared toward

enthusiasts In modern usage, enthusiasm refers to intense enjoyment, interest, or approval expressed by a person. The term is related to playfulness, inventiveness, optimism, zest, verve, and high energy. The word was originally used to refer to a person p ...

and

antiquarians An antiquarian or antiquary () is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient artefacts, archaeological and historic sit ...

in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, it is also quoted commonly in more academic publications, and its editors have become a staple presence in scholarly circles. Editor Tim Harrison issued the first number in May, 1992.

Scope

Coverage includes historic and current lighthouse events and an events calendar for lighthouse activities around the United States and elsewhere. They publish a "Doomsday List" (see below) of Endangered lighthouses, and have helped save a number of at-risk lighthouses. They have been credited with uncovering many parts of lighthouse history that had been unknown, or which were thought to have been lost. Each issue carries articles and unusual lighthouse-related stories that, for the most part, cannot be found elsewhere, and many photos, historic and contemporary. Tim Harrison died on August 19, 2023, at the age of 75.

Audience

''Lighthouse Digest'' has subscribers in all 50 United States and 17 other nations. Currently it publishes six issues a year. The founding editor was Tim Harrison; the current editor is Kathleen Finnegan-Harrison.

Doomsday List

The Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List is a list of endangered

lighthouse A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lens (optics), lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. Ligh ...

s. The list usually consists of lighthouses in the

and

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

, but occasionally includes sites from other countries as well. Inclusion on the list raises awareness that a lighthouse is in trouble. Russ Rowlett keeps an annotated version of the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List on the Lighthouse Directory. He has also compiled a Watch List of other lighthouses he feels should be on the Doomsday List. The

Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society The Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society (NSLPS) is a non profit charitable organization that works to save lighthouses in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the largest and oldest lighthouse heritage organization in Canada. The so ...

also holds a Doomsday List of Canadian endangered lighthouses, though according to Russ Rowlett it is not truly national in scope as most of the lighthouses listed are in

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...

. Russ Rowlett keeps a more complete list with no official standing. A similar list for lighthouses in

Puerto Rico ; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...

was constructed by Sandra Shanklin for the ''Lighthouse Digest'' in 2002.

References

External links

*
''Lighthouse Digest'' website
Lighthouses Magazines established in 1992 1992 establishments in Maine Hobby magazines published in the United States History magazines published in the United States Magazines published in Maine {{hist-mag-stub