The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses (Hardcover)

~ Samuel Willard Compton (Author), Michael J. Rhein (Author) "The Scottish engineer Alan Stevenson emphasized the importance of "making lights" in his classic Rudimentary Treatise on the History, Construction and Illumination of Lighthouse (1850)..." (more)
Key Phrases: flashing white light, first lighthouse, first lighted, Great Lakes, North America, Lighthouse Board (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The sheer beauty of the elegant, lonely lighthouses along our shores—and their unspoiled, scenic natural settings—has captivated our collective imagination. More than simply picturesque, the lighthouse has become an enduring symbol of salvation, fortitude, and heroic folklore.

The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses is a comprehensive and fascinating work, where you’ll discover:

- Profiles of every kind of lighthouse, from the boldly striped 196-foot tower overlooking the notorious Diamond Shoals off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to the many octagonal and pyramidal beacons built to guide sailors into North American harbors

- Fascinating information about lightships, foghorns, and modest beacons

- Many remarkable engineering techniques used in constructing lighthouses

- Historical examples of our ancestors’ courageous efforts to guide mariners through treacherous seas and storms

- Scores of stunning full-color photographs, and more!

A celebration of one of America’s purest landmarks, The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses is a must-have for any home.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Thunder Bay Press (CA); First Edition edition (May 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1552670260
• ISBN-13: 978-1571452245
• ASIN: 1571452249
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #705,046 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Birthday Delight, January 19, 2009

By	C. Hopkins (New Port Richey, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses (Hardcover)

This was a gift in unison with another Lighthouse themed present. It was a smash. The pictures are beautiful.

11 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice, but US centric, July 26, 2005

By	BB Wolf "Wolf" (Belgium) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses (Hardcover)

Nice photography, nice text but too US-centric to deserve the title "Ultimate book" knowing that the worlds most interesting lighthouses are in Europe and this book only shows you US lighthouses (I have to admit, they are kinda nice too).

If you are looking for a more comprehensive book there are other options.

6 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Home Again, September 13, 2000

By	William G Howard (USA) - See all my reviews

The cover picture of the West Point Lighthouse on Prince Edward Island, Canada was of particular interest to me since my Grandfather Capt Michael Howard sailed his schooners out of Brae Harbor and used the light as his guide. The lighthouse is now a hotel and restaurant and reservations are a year in advance. I stay nearby several times yearly and have breakfast there regularly. it is a beautiful spot ad you have to be there to appreciate it. When I first saw the text I was so pleasantly surprised that of all the lighthouses in USA & Canada they picked the home area of my Mom & Dad!!