Every year on August 7th, we celebrate National Lighthouse Day in the United States. This is a special day to honor lighthouses, those tall buildings by the sea that help ships stay safe.
Lighthouses have been around for a very long time. A long time ago, people lit big fires to help ships find their way. As ships got bigger and traveled more, they needed better ways to know where they were going. That’s when lighthouses were built.
Lighthouses are like big lights on the coast. They help ships see where the land is, especially when it’s dark, foggy, or stormy. They also show where there are dangerous things underwater, like rocks and shallow areas. This way, ships don’t crash into them and get stuck.
Lighthouses are not just helpful; they are also very special. They look beautiful standing by the ocean. Sometimes, they stand alone, looking strong and brave. People who took care of lighthouses, called lighthouse keepers, were very important. They made sure the lights stayed on, even during bad weather.
But lighthouses are more than just useful buildings. They have a magic about them. They make people think of adventure and the old times. Some lighthouses are really old and show us how clever people were in the past.
On National Lighthouse Day, we remember lighthouses and think about saving them. Many lighthouses are not used anymore because we have new ways to help ships. But we should still keep them because they remind us of history and how important they were. Some lighthouses are now museums or special places to stay.
Have you heard of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse? It’s the tallest brick lighthouse in the U.S., and it’s in North Carolina. Another cool lighthouse is the Big Sable Point Lighthouse in Michigan. It’s in a park and looks amazing.
On this day, people do lots of things. We can visit lighthouses, learn about them, and take pictures. Some places have contests to see who can take the best picture. We can also make lighthouse crafts and drawings.
So, on National Lighthouse Day, let’s remember these special buildings and the people who took care of them. They are like heroes of the sea, helping ships and sailors find their way in the big ocean. Just like lighthouses show the way, we can be lights in the lives of others, helping them when things get tough.