The sheer beauty of the elegant, lonely lighthouses along our shores — and their unspoiled, scenic natural settings — has captivated our collective imagination. More than simply picturesque, the lighthouse has become an enduring symbol of salvation, fortitude, and heroic folklore. The Ultimate Lighthouse Book is a panoramic, lavishly illustrated history of these legendary buildings and celebrates the rich heritage of our ancestors’ courageous efforts to guide mariners through treacherous seas and storms. Over 200 color photographs are featured in this fully revised, expanded and updated edition.

The sheer beauty of the elegant, lonely lighthouses along our shores--and their unspoiled, scenic natural settings--has captivated our collective imagination. A celebration of one of America's purest landmarks, The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses is a must-have for any home.

A spectacular collection of America’s most iconic and stunning lighthouses. Through gorgeous photography, this book celebrates these unique and magnificent beacons and their history. The construction of lighthouses began as this new nation’s first public-works project in 1789 and established the United States as a maritime world power by making ports safe for navigation. These structures—many still active and serving their original purpose even in the era of global positioning systems—are living museums, yet they often prove difficult to access for visitors due to their necessary remoteness. From Maine’s West Quoddy Head on the easternmost headlands to the iconic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, and the West Coast lighthouses from New Point Loma to New Dungeness and Michigan’s Grand Haven Pier Lighthouse, the images here will delight both the armchair traveler and those who have taken the back roads or trekked across sandy beaches to visit these special and often artful buildings. This is a great gift for lovers of lighthouses, boaters, and those who live or dream of living on the seashore.

Lighthouses hold a perennial fascination for all sorts of people--an indicator of danger, a beacon of the sea, filled with history and romance, and a magnet for coastal walkers, holiday makers, and tourists. This book is a beautifully presented panorama of over 150 lighthouses from 56 countries around the world, all of which are accessible, and many of which can be visited. From lighthouses boldly beaming their lights from clifftops, to those clinging to the edge of cliff faces, this is a spectacular and unusual celebration of lighthouses from every continent. With details of their height, year of build, history, and accessibility to visitors, this is both a practical as well as an aspirational collection which will inspire and enthrall anyone who is drawn by the romance of the iconic lighthouse. This is a wonderful gift book in original packaging and a novel format which is just perfect for presenting lighthouses in all their glory.

From the busy Atlantic waters to the rugged Pacific coast, explore the country's most historic and beautiful lighthouses with amazing 3-D pop-ups. Lighthouses! A Pop-Up Gallery of America's Most Beloved Beacons features more than 25 color photographs and original illustrations showcasing America's coastal guardians. From the historical to the technical, author Al Mitchell, a renowned expert in the field of lighthouse study, explains the important roles played by each beacon through the years. This unique tribute includes 5 amazing, architecturally accurate 3-D pop-ups designed by acclaimed paper engineer Linda Costello. Beautifully illustrated pop-ups stand approximately 9 1/2 inches tall and 5 inches in diameter and demonstrate each lighthouse's unique design and function. Pop-ups include some of the most famous landmarks in the country: Cape Hatteras Light, North Carolina's distinctive black-and-white barber pole; Old Point Loma Light, the beacon for California's Gold rush traffic; and Florida's prominent Ponce de Leon Inlet Light. This is the ultimate book for admirers of lighthouses and architecture.