I have discovered that I enjoy visiting and photographing lighthouses. Given that I am only able to visit lighthouses with the family in tow, and generally only while on the road and between destinations, I have been unable to choose the time of day of the visit, the weather conditions, or the lighting conditions. As such, the following photos are just snapshots. However, I feel that some of them almost capture the romantic history of the lighthouses. Michigan The Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse on the shore of the Straits of Mackinac. This lighthouse was built in 1890 and was retired in 1957 with the construction of the Mackinac Bridge. The lighthouse is now the most prominent feature of a public park. Photo made August, 1998. A second view of the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse. Photo made August, 1998. The Forty Mile Point Lighthouse. This lighthouse was built in 1897 and rebuilt in 1935. While no longer in service, this lighthouse is beautifully preserved and is open to the public. Photo made June, 2005. The Old Presque Isle Front Range Light on the shore of Lake Huron. This light is no longer in service and has been moved from its original location. Photo made June, 2005. The Old Presque Isle Rear Range Light on the shore of Lake Huron. This light is no longer in service and is now a private residence. Photo made June, 2005. The Old Presque Isle Lighthouse on the shore of Lake Huron. This lighthouse was built in 1840 and was in service thirty years before being replaced and abandoned. The lighthouse and associated buildings have been restored and are now maintained by the township of Presqe Isle. Photo made August, 1998. The new Presque Isle Lighthouse on the shore of Lake Huron. This, the tallest lighthouse on the Great Lakes, was built in 1870 to the replace the the 1840 lighthouse. This lighthouse is still in use, having been automated by the Coast Guard in 1970. The tower and gift shop in the former keeper's house are maintained by the township of Presque Isle. Photo made August, 1998. The Sturgeon Point Lighthouse on the shore of Lake Huron. This lighthouse was built in 1870 and is still operated by the Coast Guard. Photo made August, 1998. A second view of the Sturgeon Point Lighthouse. Photo made August, 1998. The Tawas Point Lighthouse on the shore of Lake Huron. This 70 foot lighthouse was built in 1852 and is still in use by the Coast Guard. Photo made August, 1998. The Round Island Lighthouse in the Straits of Mackinac. This lighthouse was built in 1895-96, and was retired in the late 1940s with the building of the new channel light. After retirement, the Round Island Lighthouse fell into disrepair and was close to collapse before being restored by a cooperative effort of local citizens and government agencies. Photo made August, 1998 from a Mackinac Ferry. The new channel light in the Straits of Mackinac. Photo made August, 1998 from Mackinac Ferry. New York The Buffalo Lighthouse is located on a Coast Guard facility, and following the events of September 11, 2001, is no longer available to be visited by the public. Also on site are numerous shipping artifacts and one of the Bottle Lights. Visible in the channel are the Buffalo Water Intake and the Horseshoe Reef Light. From the marker: The oldest building in Buffalo still standing on its original site, this lighthouse was built in 1832 and 1833. The oldest portion is the 44-foot tapering octagonal tower. The original lantern room was removed in 1857 and the strong casement window section and upper portions added to raise the light and make room for a fog bell. Nicknamed the "Old Stone Light" in the 19th century and "Chinaman's Light" early this century, the tower originally used whale-oil lamps and polished reflectors. Kerosene lamps and a fresnel lens were in use early this century, but the lighthouse was decommissioned in 1914 and the breakwater light station became the main beacon for the expanded harbor. A classic fresnel lens was installed and the lighthouse re-lit to help open the first Buffalo-Fort Erie Friendship Festival in 1987. North Carolina The Oak Island Lighthouse at the mouth of the Cape Fear River in North Carolina. This lighthouse, built in 1958, is the newest North Carolina lighthouse, is 169 feet tall, has the brightest light of any U.S. lighthouse, and is currently operated by the Coast Guard. Photo made August 2, 1999. A second view of the Oak Island Lighthouse, taken on October 23, 2002. The remains of Price's Creek Lighthouse at the mouth of the Cape Fear River in North Carolina. This lighthouse, built in 1848, was destroyed by Confederate troops as they lost control of the Cape Fear River. The current owner has repaired the Civil War cannon damage and structural decay but the lighthouse still lacks the glass and iron lamp top. Photo made August 2, 1999. Outside the US The lighthouse at the entrance to the harbor in Cassis, France. Photo made October 11, 2004.