FALMOUTH (AP) – Nobska Lighthouse in Falmouth is one of multiple lighthouses nationwide that are being offered at no cost by the federal government.
Ten lighthouses that for generations have stood like sentinels along America’s shorelines protecting mariners from peril and guiding them to safety are being given away at no cost or sold at auction by the federal government.
The aim of the program run by the General Services Administration is to preserve the properties, most of which are more than a century old.
The development of modern technology, including GPS, means lighthouses are no longer essential for navigation, said John Kelly of the GSA’s office of real property disposition.
And while the Coast Guard often maintains aids to navigation at or near lighthouses, the structures themselves are often no longer mission critical.
Yet the public remains fascinated by the beacons, which are popular tourist attractions and the subject of countless photographers and artists.
“People really appreciate the heroic role of the solitary lighthouse keeper,” he said, explaining their allure. “They were really the instruments to provide safe passage into some of these perilous harbors which afforded communities great opportunities for commerce, and they’re often located in prominent locations that offer breathtaking views.”
The GSA has been transferring ownership of lighthouses since Congress passed the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act in 2000. About 150 lighthouses have been transferred, 80 or so given away and another 70 auctioned, raising more than $10 million.
This year, six lighthouses–including Nobska–are being offered at no cost to federal, state or local government agencies, nonprofits, educational organizations or other entities that are willing to maintain and preserve them and make them publicly available for educational, recreational or cultural purposes.
Some are already maintained by nonprofits, and those agencies will have the opportunity to apply to continue doing do, Kelly said.
If a new owner is not found, the lighthouse is offered for competitive bidding at auction.
Some of the lighthouses purchased in the past have been converted into private residences by people who want a unique living situation.
“They all have their own interesting history,” Kelly said.
The Associated Press contributed to part of this report.
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