These once crucial beacons for mariners , thanks to modern navigational aids , are now relics ; long gone is the era when the U . S . Lighthouse Services appointed “ keepers ” to tend the lights . Not only do lighthouses face the onslaught of storms and soil erosion , these iconic structures also suffer neglect or abandonment . The few lighthouses that remain in service are automated by the Coast Guard and those that have been decommissioned are maintained by a diverse group of nonprofit and government organizations .
So how does a rag-tag group of lighthouse stewards advocate for preservation ? Enter the United States Lighthouse Society ( USLS ). In the early 1980 ’ s , the founder , Wayne Wheeler , found himself to be an accidental expert within the Coast Guard civilian service . You could call his office a “ lighthouse library ” of sorts because of the vast array of lighthouse records kept there . Although historic preservation efforts were under way across the country , they lacked a unified voice ; however , at his dining table one evening , Wheeler became the leader they needed and the USLS was formed .
Now , more than 30 years later , the USLS is led by Executive Director Jeff Gales . He says it didn ’ t take long for the society to realize that it would take more than a quarterly magazine and research library to get the public excited about lighthouse preservation .
“ Mr . Wheeler found that the most inspirational place to get interested in lighthouse preservation was to visit actual lighthouses ,” Gales said .
In 1995 the USLS launched the Lighthouse Passport Program . The goal was simple — encourage people to visit lighthouses and lead visitors in the direction of lighthouse stewardship . It was an overwhelming success !
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