History says that the first US lighthouse was built in Boston in 1716. Early lighthouses were constructed by local residents who had no formal architectural or engineering knowledge, but by the mid-to-late 1800s, a sturdier lighthouse was being built.

Many a passing mariner owed his life and ship to a lighthouse that warned him of deadly rocks and impossible passages. Today, many American lighthouses have been decommissioned and are serving as museums, restaurants or inns. But their unique shape and the magic of that solitary light in the night still draw tourists and continue to inspire painters and photographers around the world.