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Lighthouses Wonders
Talk about standing the test of time! Some of the lighthouses on this list have endured literally hundreds of years of waves, snow, ice, and even crashing boats. Here we take a look at the beautiful towers that keep the waters safe.
The lights here change as the evening goes on and if you look carefully you can see the spiral staircase inside. Interestingly, this was a re-vamp of an existing lighthouse. Would love to see the before and after of this!
This is the oldest lighthouse on the coast of China and it, along with a chapel next to it, was built in the 1600s. In the 1990s, frescoes were discovered in the chapel.
Ever wanted to stay the night in a lighthouse? Well, Saugerties has two adorable guest rooms you can rent for about $225 a night! There's even a fun little museum inside.
Is it me or does this look like something from Transformers? This is actually a fairly new lighthouse having been built in 1996 to commemorate King Rama's 50th anniversary on the throne.
Is it me or does this look like something from Transformers? This is actually a fairly new lighthouse having been built in 1996 to commemorate King Rama's 50th anniversary on the throne.
Cape Point is actually the location of the Cape of Good Hope. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage site holding a ful 25% of the plant species in all of Africa. You will also see baboons in the area. Stay away from them!
Um, OK, where the heck have I been? I grew up in NYC and had no idea this was here! It's actually the lighthouse that inspired the children's book, "The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Grey Bridge". There's even a "Little Red Lighthouse Day" in September.
You'd never know what a humble little lighthouse is home to this ornate staircase unless you saw it. It was first illuminated in 1822 and is one of the oldest continuously operating lighthouses in the country.
I love this--it looks like a little doll house! It was built in 1883 and still looks very much like it did when it first opened. While it used to run on oil wicks it now runs on solar power.
The light system here was destroyed in WWII, but thankfully was restored. If you come here don't be disappointed if you can't climb up the inside--due to structural issues the tower is unsafe for tourists.
This lighthouse was built in 1911 and as you can see, has endured some pretty tough elements. I have to admit I feel a bit of shame at thinking this was actually a desert when I first saw it.
If this looks familiar but you've never set foot in Michigan a day in your life, you're not crazy. There's a replica of it at Lake Havasu, Arizona. It also happens to be on one of the Michigan license plates.
Perched at the northernmost tip of Kauai, the 52-foot Kilauea Lighthouse was built in 1913 as a beacon for traveling ships. Although its light was turned off in the 1970s and has been replaced by an automatic beacon, it still serves as one of the island's most frequented attractions.
There's a harrowing and pretty well-known story about this picture. The lighthouse keeper (who you can just barely see in the doorway) and come down from the tower when the storm hit and was apparently afraid for his life. When he heard a helicopter he thought it was a rescue team, but it was only aThere's a harrowing and pretty well-known story about this picture. The lighthouse keeper (who you can just barely see in the doorway) and come down from the tower when the storm hit and was apparently afraid for his life. When he heard a helicopter he thought it was a rescue team, but it was only a photographer working on a book about French lighthouses. Poor guy!…see moresee less
In 1916, the wife of the lighthouse keeper had a baby at the actual lighthouse. When she found she was unable to nurse, the lighthouse keeper got a cow and kept it at the lighthouse. Can't say the guy wasn't inventive.
There are a few legends about this tower but the one that seems to be the most accepted concerns a young girl whose father believed she would die on her 18th birthday. Long story short, he built this for her, made her live there until she was 18, and on her 18th birthday he brought her a basket of There are a few legends about this tower but the one that seems to be the most accepted concerns a young girl whose father believed she would die on her 18th birthday. Long story short, he built this for her, made her live there until she was 18, and on her 18th birthday he brought her a basket of fruit in which was a poisonous snake. Take a guess what happened next. Just goes to show you it's always something.…see moresee less
This is an event that happens every November and not surprisingly it's very big with photographers. I'm not sure I completely understand the science of it, but they do something that allows the light to distribute like this for a few minutes. The name of the lighthouse comes from a ship called the This is an event that happens every November and not surprisingly it's very big with photographers. I'm not sure I completely understand the science of it, but they do something that allows the light to distribute like this for a few minutes. The name of the lighthouse comes from a ship called the Carrier Pigeon that wrecked at this very spot.…see moresee less
At one point this was the world's tallest lighthouse; now it's a cool observation deck with shops and restaurants. I think it looks like a combo between the Eiffel Tower and the Space Needle.
OK, get this--this lighthouse was renovated--that's renovated, not built, in 1791!!! It was originally built in the 11th century and is the oldest active lighthouse in the world. No wonder its name transfers to "Tower of Hercules"!!!
Is it me or does this look like something from Transformers? This is actually a fairly new lighthouse having been built in 1996 to commemorate King Rama's 50th anniversary on the throne.
This might be my favorite on this list--it was built in 1938 and you can really see the sleek lines of that era here. It still lights up for three seconds every 1/2 a second. Would love to see this in person.
Hope you're in good shape! The climb up to the top of this lighthouse is the equivalent of climbing up 12 stories and is a hot, humid climb with a landing only every 31 stairs.
If you visit this lighthouse make sure you check out their store--the proceeds from it go to preserving the area lighthouses and they have some really cool vintage-inspired posters.
OK, I have to do this-they have a program where you can talk to the resident archeologist about all the wrecks in the area. They also have a champagne toast at sunset which sounds like so much fun!