Happy National Lighthouse Day! A beacon, a warning, and a symbol of hope and home, lighthouses have existed for thousands of years. The earliest known was the Pharos of Alexandria, which stood an estimated 330 feet tall. Built by the ancient Egyptians in the 3rd century BCE, an open fire was lit at its highest part to guide ships into port. Illumination technology advanced over the centuries, culminating in today"s electric versions beaming light that can be seen from over 20 miles away. North Carolina"s Bodie Island Lighthouse, pictured here, was built in 1872 and overlooks a section of ocean once known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Since then, it"s been doing its best to outshine the stars above, as it guides sailors home to safe harbor.
National Lighthouse Day
Today in History
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Arbor Day
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Bird s-eye view on World Environment Day
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Göreme, Cappadocia, Turkey
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Keep your hands inside the ride at all times…
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Peel Castle on St. Patrick’s Isle with the Isle of Man in the background
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Prince Christian Sound in southern Greenland
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A peek behind the royal curtain
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From garden to table?
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Ceremony Hall at Sweden s Icehotel
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Laguna de Torrevieja, Spain
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Lantern Festival
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Brocken spectre in Central Balkan National Park, Bulgaria
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All hail the king of shrubs
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Bukhansan National Park, South Korea
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The first ascent
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Arrr! Can you talk like a pirate?
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Black bear cub emerging into spring
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How green is my valley
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Museum Night in Berlin
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National Park Week: Everglades National Park
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Steyr River, Austria
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Bangkok, Thailand
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Chilling out in the Arctic
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Happy birthday, Saguaro National Park
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Autumn’s swan song
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The story of a rediscovered redwood
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A bohemian feline
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Swimming with the sea cows
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Mount Segla, Senja Island, Norway