The U.S. Government Is Giving Away a Record Number of Lighthouses This Year

Chris Mench
·2 min read

If you've ever dreamed of escaping from it all in an old lighthouse on the coast, the thought might not be as fanciful as you think.

The U.S. government's General Services Administration is set to give away or auction off 10 old lighthouse properties this year, the agency recently announced, a record number. It's part of a series of lighthouse sales and giveaways that first began in 2000 under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act, which sought to preserve properties that are beloved by the public despite no longer being necessary for maritime navigation.

“People really appreciate the heroic role of the solitary lighthouse keeper,” said John Kelly of the GSA’s office of real property disposition, to The Guardian. “They were really the instruments to provide safe passage into some of these perilous harbors which afforded communities great opportunities for commerce, and they’re often located in prominent locations that offer breathtaking views.”

This year, the government will offer six lighthouses for free to any federal, state, or local government entity, non-profit, educational organization, or other group that will preserve them and make them accessible to the public. Another four will be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with past sales sometimes being converted into private residences or other uses. If no entity is found for the free giveaways, they too will be auctioned off.

The lighthouses that will be given away for free are:

  • Plymouth/Gurnet Light, Plymouth, MA

  • Warwick Neck Light, Warwick, RI

  • Lynde Point Lighthouse, Old Saybrook, CT

  • Nobska Lighthouse, Falmouth, MA

  • Little Mark Island and Monument, Harpswell, ME

  • Erie Harbor North Pier Lighthouse, Erie, PA

The lighthouses that will go up for auction are:

  • Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Light, Cleveland, OH

  • Penfield Reef Lighthouse, Fairfield, CT,

  • Stratford Shoal Light, East Setauket, NY

  • Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Light, Chassell, MI

You can learn more about the auctions and giveaways on the GSA's website.