National Lighthouse Day 2026
 |
National Lighthouse Day is celebrated every year on August 7th.
It marks the day in 1789 when Congress signed an act to support lighthouses, beacons, and public piers. The special day honors the history and safety given by these tall coastal towers. Signed by President George Washington on August 7, 1789.
Lighthouses formed the first public work program for the new federal government.Made official in 1989 for the 200th anniversary. They make note of the hard work of past lighthouse keepers.
Today is National Lighthouse Day.
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.
An Act for the Establishment and support of Lighthouse, Beacons, Buoys, and Public Piers.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all expenses which shall accrue from and after the fifteenth day of August one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine, in the necessary support, maintenance and repairs of all lighthouses, beacons, buoys and public piers erected, placed, or sunk before the passing of this act, at the entrance of, or within any bay, inlet, harbor, or port of the United States, for rendering the navigation thereof easy and safe, shall be defrayed out of the treasury of the United States: Provided nevertheless, That none of the said expenses shall continue to be so defrayed by the United States, after the expiration of one year from the day aforesaid, unless such lighthouses, beacons, buoys and public piers, shall in the mean time be ceded to and vested in the United States, by the state or states respectively in which the same may be, together with the lands and tenements thereunto belonging, and together with the jurisdiction of the same.
Section 2. And be it further enacted, That a lighthouse shall be erected near the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay, at such place, when ceded to the United States in manner aforesaid, as the President of the United States shall direct.
Section 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to provide by contracts, which shall be approved by the President of the United States, for building a lighthouse near the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay, and for rebuilding when necessary, and keeping in good repair, the lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and public piers in the several States, and for furnishing the same with all necessary supplies; and also to agree for the salaries, wages, or hire of the person or persons appointed by the President, for the superintendence and care of the same.
Section 4. And be it further enacted, That all pilots in the bays, inlets, rivers, harbors and ports of the United States, shall continue to be regulated in conformity with the existing laws of the States respectively wherein such pilots may be, or with such laws as the States may respectively hereafter enact for the purpose, until further legislative provision shall be made by Congress. Approved: August 7, 1789
Senator John H. Chafee of Rhode Island sponsored a joint resolution that was introduced to Congress on April 28, 1988 designating the day of August 7, 1989 as "National Lighthouse Day." The summary of the resolution stated,
"Designates August 7, 1989, as National Lighthouse Day and calls for lighthouse grounds, where feasible, to be open to the public."The resolution passed the Senate on July 26, 1988 and the House sponsored by Representative William J Hughes of New Jersey on October 21, 1988. President Ronald Reagan signed the Bill into public law (Number 100-622) on November 5, 1988.