HISTORY OF LIGHTHOUSES

Do you know that the Egyptians were the first to build lighthouses to use light to guide ships? Lighthouses were also constructed by the Phoenicians, Greeks and the Romans.

Lighthouses warn sailors to straighten their position so they do not hit the land. They are built on harbours, islands and beaches (refer to pictures). The early lighthouses used wick lamps as a source of light. In the olden times the light beam could only travel a few miles.

The first lighthouse in England was built on a stone steep rock in 1698. It was named the Eddystone Rock Lighthouse. The first lighthouse in America was built on Brewser Island in Boston Harbour and named Boston Lighthouse.

In the past the lighthouses were run by keepers. Today most lighthouses have lights that run automatically using electricity.