US Lighthouses for Sale or Being Given Away
2023-06-03
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1The United States is offering ten American lighthouses for new owners.
2The lighthouses have stood along ocean and lake coasts for generations to help guide and protect ship and boat travel.
3The General Services Administration (GSA) operates the lighthouse release program.
4It aims to preserve the properties.
5Most of the buildings are more than 100 years old.
6Modern technology, including satellites, means lighthouses are no longer required for navigation, said John Kelly of GSA.
7And while the Coast Guard often keeps aids to navigation at or near the lighthouses, the structures themselves mostly go unused.
8Yet the public likes to visit the tall, bright white towers.
9Many are popular with tourists, and are also subjects of photographs, paintings and other art.
10The GSA has been changing ownership of lighthouses since Congress passed the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act in 2000.
11About 150 lighthouses have changed ownership, 80 or so given away and another 70 sold.
12The program has raised more than $10 million.
13This year, six lighthouses are being offered at no cost to federal, state, or local government agencies, nonprofits, educational organizations, or other groups.
14New owners must agree and be able to make repairs and preserve the buildings.
15They also have to make the lighthouses available to the public for educational, recreational, or cultural purposes.
16The buildings offered include the 10.4-meter tall Plymouth/Gurnet Light in Massachusetts.
17The eight-sided wooden structure dates to 1842.
18But, a lighthouse has been at the site since 1768.
19The site was the first to employ a woman as lighthouse keeper.
20John Kelly's personal favorite of the structures is Warwick Neck Light, in Warwick, Rhode Island.
21The 15.5-meter-tall lighthouse dates to 1827.
22It was an important navigation tool for sea travelers making their way to Providence, Rhode Island.
23Other lighthouses being offered at no cost include Lynde Point Lighthouse in Old Saybrook, Connecticut and Erie Harbor North Pier Lighthouse in Pennsylvania.
24Nonprofits already care for some of the lighthouses.
25The groups can request to continue doing so, Kelly said.
26If a new owner is not found for a lighthouse, it goes on market to be sold for the highest price offered.
27Four lighthouses are to be sold this year.
28Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Light in Ohio is one of them.
29The 15.5-meter steel tower was built in 1911 and rises above Lake Erie.
30The property can be reached by boat only but provides an extensive view of Cleveland's skyline.
31Some lighthouse owners have made the buildings their private homes and enjoy the unusual living situation.
32The lighthouses "all have their own interesting history," Kelly said.
33I'm Gregory Stachel.
1The United States is offering ten American lighthouses for new owners. 2The lighthouses have stood along ocean and lake coasts for generations to help guide and protect ship and boat travel. 3The General Services Administration (GSA) operates the lighthouse release program. It aims to preserve the properties. Most of the buildings are more than 100 years old. 4Modern technology, including satellites, means lighthouses are no longer required for navigation, said John Kelly of GSA. And while the Coast Guard often keeps aids to navigation at or near the lighthouses, the structures themselves mostly go unused. 5Yet the public likes to visit the tall, bright white towers. Many are popular with tourists, and are also subjects of photographs, paintings and other art. 6The GSA has been changing ownership of lighthouses since Congress passed the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act in 2000. About 150 lighthouses have changed ownership, 80 or so given away and another 70 sold. The program has raised more than $10 million. 7This year, six lighthouses are being offered at no cost to federal, state, or local government agencies, nonprofits, educational organizations, or other groups. New owners must agree and be able to make repairs and preserve the buildings. They also have to make the lighthouses available to the public for educational, recreational, or cultural purposes. 8The buildings offered include the 10.4-meter tall Plymouth/Gurnet Light in Massachusetts. The eight-sided wooden structure dates to 1842. But, a lighthouse has been at the site since 1768. The site was the first to employ a woman as lighthouse keeper. 9John Kelly's personal favorite of the structures is Warwick Neck Light, in Warwick, Rhode Island. The 15.5-meter-tall lighthouse dates to 1827. It was an important navigation tool for sea travelers making their way to Providence, Rhode Island. 10Other lighthouses being offered at no cost include Lynde Point Lighthouse in Old Saybrook, Connecticut and Erie Harbor North Pier Lighthouse in Pennsylvania. 11Nonprofits already care for some of the lighthouses. The groups can request to continue doing so, Kelly said. 12If a new owner is not found for a lighthouse, it goes on market to be sold for the highest price offered. 13Four lighthouses are to be sold this year. Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Light in Ohio is one of them. The 15.5-meter steel tower was built in 1911 and rises above Lake Erie. The property can be reached by boat only but provides an extensive view of Cleveland's skyline. 14Some lighthouse owners have made the buildings their private homes and enjoy the unusual living situation. 15The lighthouses "all have their own interesting history," Kelly said. 16I'm Gregory Stachel. 17Mark Pratt reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 18__________________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20lighthouse - n. a tower with a powerful light that is built on or near the shore to guide ships away from danger 21preserve - v. to keep (something) in its original state or in good condition 22navigation - n. the act of moving in a boat or ship over an area of water 23tourist - n. a person who travels to a place for pleasure 24recreational - adj. done for enjoyment 25__________________________________________________________________ 26What do you think of this story? 27We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 28Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.