Wednesday Medley ~ National Lighthouse Day

Found another fun meme to partake in. Head on over to Your Friend From Florida..... for other participants. Here is a medley of questions you may choose to answer on your Wednesday blog. There aren't any rules and there is no obligation. Link up if you want to. I'm doing this to fill my Wednesday and if you are interested, then I invite you to join in!! It might be fun!!

Everything below this line was copied from the National Calendar site.

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NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE DAY

Observed annually on August 7, National Lighthouse Day honors the beacon of light that for hundreds of years symbolized safety and security for ships and boats at sea. At one time, the beacon of light could be found across almost all of America’s shorelines.

A lighthouse is described as a tower, building or any other type of structure that is designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways.

Lighthouse Facts

• Mark dangerous coastlines, hazardous shoals, reefs, safe entries to harbors
• Assist in aerial navigation
• The number of lighthouses has declined due to the expense of maintenance. Modern electric navigational systems are replacing them. 
• Their light source is called a lamp (either electric or oil-fueled).
• Originally lit by an open fire and then candles.
• Differ depending on the location and purpose but have standard components
• The lantern room is a glassed-in housing at the top of a lighthouse tower
• Beneath the lantern room is the Watch Room or Service Room 
• Next to the Watch room is an open gallery.
• Development accelerated in the 17th century with Britain’s Trinity House constructing its first in 1609.
• In North America, St. Augustine, Florida built the first lighthouse. Printed on a 1791 map, it had been built by Menendez after his landing in 1586.
• Boston Light built on little Brewster Island next in 1716.
• The oldest existing lighthouse in the United States is the Sandy Hook Lighthouse in New Jersey.  Built in the year 1764, this lighthouse is still in operation.
• At the end of the 19th century, the United States had the most lighthouses of any nation.
• The 9th Act of the first Congress created the US Bureau of Lighthouses in 1789, which placed lighthouses under federal control.
• The United States Coast Guard took over on July 7, 1939.
• Hobbyists enjoy visiting and photographing lighthouses. They also collect ceramic replicas.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalLighthouseDay
Tour lighthouses near you. Take a road trip. With lighthouses on every coast and the great lakes, one or more is surely worth the trip! Share your photos of lighthouses and use #NationalLighthouseDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE DAY HISTORY
On August 7, 1789, the United States Congress approved an act for the “establishment and support of Lighthouse, Beacons, Buoys, and Public Piers.” It was two hundred years later that Congress designated August 7 as National Lighthouse Day.

Everything above this line is copied from the National Calendar site.

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1. Let's start with a number! How many lighthouses have you visited? maybe a handful?

2. Have you been inside a lighthouse and did you walk to the top? I have been in a few. The last one a few years ago, and it was a disaster. I have never had a panic attack in my life... and we were half way up, it was a winding staircase and I started to get sweaty, and froze, I couldn't move. The panic got worse as I had no clue as to how my hubs was going to get me down. It was the worst feeling in the world. I have yet to go back up in one!

3. Do you seek them out when you are traveling the coastlines or are you not that big a fan? I don't seek them out.

4. Do you have a favorite scripture or another reference to share with us concerning a guiding light in your life? Psalm 119:105 - "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."

5. If you don't collect lighthouses when you travel, is there something tangible that you tend to collect as a souvenir when you are on vacation or a road trip? on vacation, I will pick up some little knick knack to remember the area we are in. Lately I will gravitate to beachy things to go in my beach themed office.

6. Please share something with us about your week. This week is going much smoother than last week. The pup is no longer as stinky. There is a tiniest odor every once and a while, nothing like it was, and so thankful that its not going to be a long lingering scent like the groomer said.

We have the hubs eye appt on Friday, and Saturday we are going to the Drag Races with our youngest (or should I say he is going with us....LOL)