The U.S. Coast Guard was responsible for erecting the lighthouses throughout the Salish Sea. The Coast Guard continues to do their job in law enforcement and search and rescue in the region.
Volunteering and Donating to Lighthouses
Each lighthouse has it own issues and conditions. Obviously, restoring and maintaining lighthouse is expensive and must rely on donations and volunteers to keep them open.
We all benefit by supporting lighthouses. They provide a glimpse into our past and provide a tourist destination.
Within the state of Washington, the Lighthouse Environmental Program (LEP) was developed to help support lighthouses. By purchasing a license plate, a portion of the proceeds goes to the program which, in turn, aids lighthouses for various projects.
August 7 - Lighthouse Day!
Yes, there is a national Lighthouse Day that is celebrated every August 7th.
It was on this day in 1789, that Congress approved an Act for the establishment and support of lighthouse, beacons, buoys and public piers. In Celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the signing of the Act and the commissioning of the first Federal lighthouse, Congress passed a resolution which designated August 7, 1989 as National Lighthouse Day.