Sharing the Impact of Severe Storms at Lighthouses with The Propeller Club of Portsmouth

The opportunity to discuss lighthouses with others is always a fun experience. The occasion is even more rewarding when one can share why we need to keep acting in the present on behalf of these historic guardians.

Such an opportunity occurred on March 20, 2025 when The Propeller Club of Portsmouth invited the American Lighthouse Foundation’s Executive Director, Bob Trapani, Jr., to speak at the Propeller Club’s March Dinner Meeting in Rye, New Hampshire.

“When it comes to understanding the role of lighthouses as aids to navigation and appreciating the value of preserving these historic guardians, I could not be speaking to a finer audience than all of you here with The Propeller Club of Portsmouth,” said Bob Trapani, Jr., Executive Director for the American Lighthouse Foundation.

Trapani went on to say, “As maritime stakeholders, you are keenly aware of the fact that lighthouses are interwoven within the very fabric of our coastal way of life. Yet lighthouses are threatened now more than ever. It is up to people like you and I to protect them – to ensure they are made more resilient in the face of severe storms.”

The presentation utilized a combination of video and still imagery to convey the threat that extreme weather conditions are posing to the well-being of lighthouses in Maine and New Hampshire, including nearby Portsmouth Harbor Light in New Castle, NH.

Those in attendance learned of disaster recovery issues encountered by lighthouses, as well as the American Lighthouse Foundation’s storm and mitigation efforts and some of the challenges associated with adding resiliency to historic light stations.

The audience was also informed of the fact that the World Monuments Fund has placed Maine’s 66 lighthouses on the global organization’s 2025 Watch List (on January 15, 2025) due to threats posed by our changing climate. This two-year designation will elevate international awareness, advocacy and funding opportunities for Maine (and beyond) lighthouse stewards, while also serving as a platform for collecting vital research / data through site case studies that will help guide future mitigation and resiliency efforts.

Following his presentation, there was a fascinating Q & A. Attendees posed some great questions, ranging from the relationship of the Federal government with lighthouses and funding opportunities in the public / private sectors to how much annual preservation costs budget-wise and is there a way to elevate the priority of lighthouses to a critical level that garners more attention / support from state and federal governments.

Trapani noted that raising greater public awareness and working with policymakers are important steps to protecting lighthouses from the types of harm inflicted upon many light stations during the destructive storms of December 23, 2022 and January 10 and 13, 2024. He also explained that lighthouse stewards are up against time itself as they navigate the lack of funding and resources available to them.

The Propeller Club of Portsmouth, which is part of The International Propeller Club, aims to build awareness of the economic value and rich diversity of the Port’s maritime community and to ensure a thriving and sustainable working waterfront. Its goal is to become the voice of that waterfront by bringing together organizations and individuals who depend upon a diverse and vibrant port.

According to the Propeller Club of Portsmouth’s website, they “serve as a source of information and as a forum for discussions on waterborne commerce and marine industry in the Port of New Hampshire area. Issues have included the two hundred mile fishing limit, the propane gas terminal in Newington, and the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant. The Club has supported the commercial redevelopment of the former Pease Air Force Base. The Club was an active supporter of federal funding for the Corp of Engineers expansion of the Piscataqua River Turning Basin that was completed in the spring of 2022.”

The American Lighthouse Foundation wishes to thank The Propeller Club of Portsmouth for the opportunity to share with their diverse maritime membership the importance of safeguarding lighthouses in the here and now from the threats posed by extreme weather conditions.