Visitor guide
Common questions about how this archive works
If you are tracing one lighthouse or comparing towers across the coast, these notes explain how materials are arranged and what each label means.
How is the archive organized?
Records are indexed first by lighthouse, then by decade, and finally by material type so photographs, notes, and references can be scanned quickly in context.
What does “preserved” mean in this project?
A tower is marked preserved when its core structure remains identifiable on site and is documented through conservation records, surveys, or verified field photography.
How are keeper stories curated?
Stories are compiled from logbooks, oral histories, and regional archives, then edited into concise narratives with source references so personal accounts stay accurate and traceable.
Do all northern coast towers still stand?
No. Some towers were dismantled, relocated, or reduced to foundations; entries note current condition so visitors can distinguish standing structures from historic-only sites.
How are materials grouped by place and theme?
Each item carries both a location tag and a theme tag, allowing readers to browse by coastline district, then filter into themes such as engineering, daily life, weather, or restoration.
When you are ready, return to archive highlights or continue through archive collections.