The Lightship

Reproduction of the original.

Light boats, light vessels, lightships—before radar, depth-finders and satellite-guided navigation, mariners relied on floating lighthouses that lingered offshore as warning beacons in perilous waters. Moored near shifting shoals and treacherous reefs, lightships remained on station during all weather conditions and played a vital role in keeping America’s waterways safe for navigation. From 1820 to 1985, light vessels warned of treacherous seas and pointed the way to safe harbors. In Lightships, author Wayne Kirklin chronicles the eighty-five ships that protected the mid-Atlantic coast and the heyday of these special craft. From New York Harbor to the southernmost edge of North Carolina’s notorious Cape Fear, Kirklin details the unsung role this fleet played in keeping America’s merchant marines safe. Read Lightships to discover a forgotten but vital element of American maritime history.

Helen, her mother, and her grandmother come together to care for Helen's terminally ill brother.