Almost As Old As We Are
Lighthouse décor is a great way to celebrate the start of our nation, especially since the first American lighthouse is almost as old as the country itself. The first American lighthouse stood on Beacon Island in Boston Harbor. It was lit for the first time on September 14, 1716. Unfortunately, this historic landmark did not survive the Revolution. It was blown up by retreating British troops on September 13, 1776.
The oldest surviving lighthouse is in New York at the southern entrance to the New York Harbor. Built by Isaac Conro, this lighthouse, standing at eighty five feet in height, was named one of the three best built lighthouses by a congressional investigation in 1852. This lighthouse is one of the few that remains active today. It is preserved by the National Park Service in order to be able to continue to shine its light.