Georgia’s Shining Lights | Filed under General
It is not so easy to define exactly what we mean by a lighthouse, and various organizations and individuals have used very different definitions when describing or classifying lighthouses. Clearly, all lighthouses are lighted aids to navigation, but not all lighted aids are considered to be lighthouses.
Some definitions are not controversial. An aid to navigation is a structure placed on or near navigable water to provide visual guidance to mariners. A beacon is an aid to navigation that is fixed in place (that is, not floating). A lighted beacon or light beacon is a beacon displaying a light, while an unlit beacon is called a day beacon. Often, a lighted beacon is simply called a light.
A lighthouse does not have any particular form or appearance. The structure of a lighthouse may be enclosed, partially enclosed, or completely open.
“What is it that draws you to lighthouses?” is a question frequently asked. The answer is a complex mixture of reasons that is perhaps better understood through firsthand experience than through words. Part of the appeal lighthouses have is that they are found in some of the most beautiful settings, often on rugged coastlines dotted with conifers or on sandy beaches lined with palms. Lighthouses can also be found in the remote extremes of the country where a sunset or sunrise over a large body of water can be enjoyed in complete solitude. A perfect viewing platform for these spectacular settings is the walkway encircling the lantern room atop the lighthouse.
Perhaps lighthouses also appeal to our nostalgic and artistic senses as they are some of the most historical structures to be found in the United States, and the architectural detail found in many of them is amazing. Not only were they built to endure the ravages of the elements enhanced by their often exposed locations, but they were also built as monuments to engineering and design. With hewn rock foundations, spiral staircases, sloping conical towers, ornate water spouts, detailed window trimmings, and lantern rooms filled with giant Fresnel lenses and topped by spherical ventilator balls, lighthouses are simply beautiful structures. Witnessing a 1st-order Fresnel lens take the light of a small bulb or flame and shape it into beams of light, extending for miles from the lantern room and rotating like the spokes in a giant wheel, is a breathtaking experience. With its thousands of prisms, the Fresnel lens sits like a diamond at the top of the lighthouse tower.
Yet another reason for the allure found in lighthouses is the multitude of heroic rescues associated with them. Though many lighthouse keepers viewed their position merely as an isolating, low-paying job, for others it was seen as a chance to be of true service. Their devotion to tending the light, polishing the lens, sounding the fog signal, and assisting in rescues is remarkable.
Whether warning of danger or marking safe passage into a harbor, lighthouses stand as beacons of safety and security. Perhaps it is because of this and the imagery of light that lighthouses seem to appeal to the spiritual side of people, symbolizing He who is “the Light that shineth in darkness” and reminding us that we are also to let our “lights so shine.”
When you think of Georgia you do not think of Lighthouses however you just might change your mind—I will be taking a tour of Georgia’s Lighthouses and sharing a little history as I do. Just maybe I have your interest and you will want to see more about the Georgia Lighthouses—so come on back for a little more.
July 28th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
I am loving all this history of Georgia. My hometown has a lighthouse that is very special to me. I will look forward to your tour.
July 28th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
I read a book centered around a lighthouse a long time ago (fiction, and I can’t remember the name of it!!) but it was mesmerizing! Since then, I’ve paid more attention.
Again, a great post Ms. Vickie!
July 28th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
I wish you had written these before I posted about Georgia. What lovely things you’ve shown us!
July 29th, 2007 at 1:02 am
G’day Vickie!
Yes you are making my heart ache for Georgia, it is so rich in history and scenery (get a load of that rock!!)…it is so beautiful, do you know your population of Georgia is half that of our *whole* country (Australia is 20 million).
I didn’t realise Georgia was so big….one state, so many people…and the State song is one of my favorite songs:
Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams I see
The road leads back to you.
Georgia, oh Georgia, no peace I find…
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind.
Georgia On My Mind (1960), lyrics by Stuart Gorrell and Hoagy Carmichael
All is well in Oz Dorothy, still very much winter here, cold and pouring rain today; listening to Lucinda Williams and *Here in California*…gathering up some tax papers…and reading up on some blogs…everyone is lazin’ …watchin’ tv and sipping on hot chocolates, my little house dog is curled up at my feet and snoring her pretty little head off.
How are you going? Some parts of southern Victoria on the coast have old lighthouses, I love to clamber up their stairs and take in the views, Port Fairy a little town I spent some time in especially, rolling hills and sea, it’s very much like a little piece of Ireland.
Take care and good to catch up, sending but the best thoughts and wishes across the ocean.
Pam
July 29th, 2007 at 3:57 am
Georgia has been a lighthouse for me since the day (2 years ago) I planned to live there…
…that didn’t happen…
…yet.
Thank you sweet Vicke.
July 29th, 2007 at 7:53 am
It has been long and I didn’t expect your site to be it to be so beautiful.
You have a taste for beauty, vicky.
July 29th, 2007 at 8:24 am
thank you for coming over to my page. it means a lot the i have my faithfuls still. take care, and excellent posts, by the way. have a good weekend. poet
July 29th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
I’ve seen an old stone ruin on the Hudson River years ago, just wonder if it was a Lighthouse, or Rudy Giuliani’s childhood home. The way that place looked he must have been a really bad kid!
If I ever visit Georgia, that’s if I ever get over my fear of flying, I would love to see those lighthouses, Vickie!
July 29th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Great post. Very interesting :o)
July 30th, 2007 at 7:23 am
Hi Vickie ~~ Those lighthouses are really great and I am enjoying all your stories about Georgia. Thank you for enlightening us about your lovely state. Thank you for your kind words about my post. Glad you liked the Keeping things etc. Take care, my friend, Love, Merle.
July 30th, 2007 at 8:47 am
I wanted to stop back in and thank you very much for your kind words on my blog this weekend. It means a great deal to me and it really helped. Thanks again.
July 30th, 2007 at 11:03 am
I like that they are tall — they rise above the crashing waves, the rocks, and whatever turmoil is going on beneath them.
July 30th, 2007 at 11:11 am
Does it make sense that this is one of my all-time favorite posts, now?
Of course it does.
Take care of you.
July 30th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
I think you are becoming the beacon for all of us to see Georgia through your eyes.
July 30th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Vickie!
I just caught up on a whole weeks worth of posts! WOW! All of a sudden you are back full force!
I love these posts about Georgia. You write with an obvious love and pride of your state. I really enjoyed the tour. I have added Georgia to my list of places to see. That Huge rock is amazing. Sad about the erosion happening so rapidly, but it is still a beautiful spot! Hopefully a lesson has been learned there.
You must be feeling better to be doing such a lot of writing and that makes me happy.
July 30th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
You have shown us some things already about Georgia that surprised me so learning about light houses there isn’t that big of one. I’ll look forward to your tour.
July 31st, 2007 at 9:30 am
What a beautifully written post Vickie. You are back with a vengeance. Wonderful to see.
Take care, sweet lady, hope the good health continues.