This is a reissue of one of Edward Rowe Snow's most enduring classics. First published in 1945, it relates the histories of over fifty of the region's lighthouses in rich detail. Snow gives special emphasis to the story of heroine Abbie Burgess at Maine's Matinicus Rock Light, to the rich histories of Boston Light and Minot's Ledge Light. Modern day lighthouse expert Jeremy D'Entremont has provided extensive annotations to Snow's chapters, bringing the information about each lighthouse up to date.

"New England is known to have one of the most rugged coastlines in the world. This book was developed to provide the reader a series of stories that encompass the brave men and women of New England who risked their lives at or near New England's lighthouses. These individuals were not only part of the lighthouse, lifesaving, and revenue cutter government services of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, but also encompass a town's own citizens, local mariners, or a ship's captain and crew, who would also risk their lives alongside their government counterparts in helping those in distress."--Preface.

With more than 360 color photos and maps, this image-rich guide covers all 76 lighthouse locations in the New England states of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. For tourists, historians, lighthouse enthusiasts, and other travelers, here are practical directions and historical tidbits not only on the lighthouses, but on the tours, attractions, and other sites of interest in the coastal communities these beacons have long protected. Enjoy boat cruises, organizations involved in local lighthouse preservation, and plenty of indoor and outdoor attractions and entertainment, including attractions off the beaten path like snack shacks or strange amusements.

With more than 360 color photos and maps, this image-rich guide covers all 92 lighthouse locations in the New England states of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. For tourists, historians, lighthouse enthusiasts, and other travelers, here are practical directions and historical tidbits not only on the lighthouses, but on the tours, attractions, and other sites of interest in the coastal communities these beacons have long protected. Enjoy boat cruises, organizations involved in local lighthouse preservation, and plenty of indoor and outdoor attractions and entertainment, including attractions off the beaten path like snack shacks or strange amusements.

Sixteen lighthouses were built before the Revolution; hundreds more have been built since, creating the world's most complex system of navigational aid. No other national lighthouse system compares with that of the United States in size and diversity of architecture and engineering.