For centuries, lighthouses stood like sentinels along America’s rocky coastline, warning ships of reefs and helping them to navigate treacherous waters. But with the advent of GPS, the structures that once saved lives are now all but obsolete. The government hasn’t lost all hope for the once-essential maritime landmarks, however, and is giving some away — and selling others.
The General Services Administration has announced that it is offering six lighthouses for free to nonprofits or government agencies that promise to maintain them and four more will be offered for sale at auction. The 2023 edition of the annual auction is the largest to date, with starting bids of $10,000. “Some of these lighthouses are in need of significant repair and restoration,” a GSA news release notes. Among the available properties are Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Light, a 50-foot steel tower in Lake Erie; Penfield Reef Light in Fairfield, Conn.; Stratford Shoal Light in the middle of Long Island Sound between Connecticut and New York; and Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Light in Chassell, Mich. Also read https://www.mobilehomedreamin.com/sell-my-mobile-home-fast-sacramento-ca/
If a nonprofit or other government agency wants to be the new owner of one of these lighthouses, it must apply by June 30. “If a nonprofit is selected, the lighthouse can be transferred to them immediately,” a GSA news release says. If a suitable applicant is not found, the lighthouses will be offered at auction to private parties.
Those who win the auction may be required to follow certain historic preservation restrictions that limit what can be done to the property, a GSA news release notes. Those restrictions can be waived if the prospective buyer has a history of maintaining lighthouses. Those who are interested in bidding for a lighthouse can find more information on the GSA website.
While the federal government does not guarantee that those who buy a lighthouse will be able to live in it, the National Park Service and other agencies that help preserve the structures do offer assistance. Since 2002, the GSA has sold 139 lighthouses through its program. They have fetched prices ranging from $10,000 to more than $1 million. Some buyers have turned their purchases into private residences, while others keep them as museums or turn them into other kinds of attractions.
The National Park Service’s National Lighthouse Heritage Fund supports the work of local and state parks in the lighthouse preservation field, including educational and community outreach efforts. It also offers grants to help pay for the cost of maintenance, repairs and upkeep at lighthouses.
MPR’s Neal Rubin and Michaela Angelo contributed to this report. Please support MPR and other independent media by becoming a member today. Your gift helps make our work possible, free of paywalls and barriers to access. You can join online or by calling 800-514-7926. Your membership includes a free subscription to the digital version of The Week.
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