Lightships: Floating Lighthouses of the Mid-Atlantic

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."