The Lighthouse Encyclopedia : The Definitive Reference

Who was Augustine Fresnel? What is a clamshell lens? When was the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse moved inland? Where were screw-pile towers used? What is a daymark? Lighthouse lovers and anyone interested in maritime history will find the answers to these and hundreds of other questions in "The Lighthouse Encyclopedia". This one-stop resource offers a wealth of information about the history of lighthouses, key people associated with lighthouses, lighthouse technology, lighthouse organizations and specific lighthouses. Organized in traditional encyclopaedia style, this predominantly A-to-Z compendium of information allows readers to easily find the historical fact, famous lighthouse keeper or lighthouse mechanism they are looking for and then read the pertinent details about that topic. The following is a small sampling of entries covered: breakwater light; hyper-radiant lens; lightships; Stephen Pleasanton; steamer lantern; caisson; Winslow Lewis; mercury bath; rear range light; and eclipsing light. In addition, a directory of more than 150 lighthouses throughout the world provides key data - date built, tower height, elevation, type of optic and when automated - about each lighthouse plus full details about the lighthouse's history, wartime significance and current restoration. Dozens of full-colour photographs of the lighthouses enhance the text, and archival images of lighthouse keepers, famous lighthouses as they looked in their early years, hurricane wreckage and other events of historic significance help bring to life the dramatic lighthouse story. Sidebars on subjects such as lighthouse preservation, lighthouse collectibles, shipwrecks and lighthouses in the movies also enliven the main text.