Society Chronology
This is a listing of the major events through time that have affected the US Lighthouse Society.
Date | Activity |
1981 | Wayne Wheeler develops a lighthouse slide show |
1982 | First work begun to start the Society |
1983 | Society formed in Wayne Wheeler's dining room |
1984 | Non profit status achieved 501c(3) and IRS Papers received |
1984 | First solicitation for members |
November 22, 1984 | First Keeper's Log published (32 pages) |
End 1984 | Society Reaches 1350 Members |
March 1, 1985 | Keeper's Locker Started |
Summer 1985 | USLHS Archive started |
1985 | First Domestic Tour one day of San Francisco Lighthouses |
Fall 1985 | Keeper's Log size increased to 36 pages |
1986 | Second Domestic Tour 3 days of San Francisco Lighthouses |
March 17, 1986 | Department of Transportation Award for Historic Preservation |
Summer 1986 | Moved Headquarters to 964 Chenery Street, San Francisco CA |
December 1, 1986 | Lightship LV-605 Relief donated to the Society |
Winter 1986 | Keeper's Log size increased to 40 pages |
February 1, 1987 | Lightship LV-605 Relief arrives in Oakland CA |
Fall 1987 | USLHS Philosophy Published in Keeper's Log |
Winter 1987 | Keeper's Log size increased to 44 pages |
Spring 1988 | Tanja Rabbitt Hired as Office Manager (First Employee) |
Spring 1988 | Keeper's Log size increased to 52 pages |
Fall 1988 | Moved Headquarters to 244 Kearny Street, San Francisco CA |
1989 | Wayne Wheeler gives Keynote speech at Key West FL |
1989 | Society petiitioned Congress to designate August 7 as Lighthouse Day |
September 1, 1989 | Society is host organization for Lighthouse Bicentennial Week in Newport RI |
1990 | Lightship LV-605 Relief designated a National Historic Landmark |
Summer 1990 | Society Hosts Lighthouse Stamp Unveiling |
Winter 1991 | Society receives $10,000 grant for the restoration of its lightship |
Summer 1991 | First color cover for the Keeper's Log |
Fall 1991 | Society Lightship filmed for PBS Special |
August 17, 1992 | First International Tour of Russian Lighthouses |
Spring 1994 | Society Passport Program in Planning Stage |
Fall 1994 | First Keeper's Catalog Released |
1995 | Passport Program Released |
Winter 1996 | Society joins USCG, and NPS to create a comprehensive Historic preservation program for the USCG |
Spring 1996 | The first all color Keeper's Log is published |
Fall 1997 | Society Helps to Create the Lighthouse Preservation Handbook |
1998 | Society participates in selection of site for National Lighthouse Museum |
Fall 2000 | Society attends the Nova Scotia International Lighthouse Conference |
Fall 2000 | Society was one of four partners in the development of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000 |
June 1, 2002 | Lightship LV-605 Relief Opened to public |
January 1, 2003 | Society website goes active on the web. |
Spring 2003 | Society receives Phoenix Travel Award |
Winter 2004 | Society participates in first National Maritime Heritage Conference at St Sugustine FL |
Spring 2004 | Website is rebuilt and redesigned |
May 1, 2004 | Society and Chesapeake Chapter take over the restoration of Thomas Point Shoal MD |
Fall 2004 | Wayne Wheeler Receives Ross Holland Award |
Summer 2005 | Wayne Wheeler retires from all but the Board of Directors |
Summer 2005 | Jeff Gales becomes Executive Director |
Fall 2007 | Mike Vogel Receives Ross Holland Award |
2008 | US Lighthouse Society moved headquarters to Point No Point WA |
2008 | Society releases Light Lists feature on Website |
January 12, 2009 | Society designated as a “Preserve America Steward” by First Lady for exemplary volunteer efforts at Thomas Point Shoal |
September 1, 2009 | Lighthouse Enthusiasts Community released on the Society Website |
Spring 2010 | Point No Point Keeper's Workshop Restored |
Summer 2010 | Lighthouse Guardians Historic Trust Announced |
Winter 2012 | The Lighthouse Passport Club was first released to the members |
Spring 2012 | The Light Lists program was dramatically enhanced on the Society website |
Fall 2012 | Lightship LV-605 ownership is transferred to the Anchor Program |
August 14, 2014 | U.S. Lighthouse Society receives grant from Lands' End in support of its Lighthouse Preservation Fund Grant Program |
August 15, 2014 | Society Lighthouse Preservation Fund awards grant to Block Island SE, RI |
September 1, 2015 | Society Lighthouse Preservation Fund awards grant to the Race Rock Lighthouse, NY |
September 1, 2015 | Society Lighthouse Preservation Fund awards grant to the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse, OH |
September 1, 2015 | Society Lighthouse Preservation Fund awards grant to the Sentinel Island Lighthouse, AK |
October 15, 2015 | U.S. Lighthouse Society receives grant from Lands' End to begin the rehabilitation of the Alcatraz Island Lighthouse, CA |
January 21, 2015 | Society’s new website goes active |
July 2016 | Candace Clifford hired as Society Historian |
July 2016 | U.S. Lighthouse Society receives grant from Lands’ End in support of Boston Lighthouse |
August 2016 | U.S. Lighthouse Society receives grant from SeaPak in support of Morris Island Lighthouse |
November 2016 | The USLHS News Blog is added to the Society website |
May 2017 | Work begins to develop the USLHS Lighthouse Research Catalog |
June 2017 | The USLHS Archive surpasses 2 Tera Bytes of data |
June 2017 | Kate’s Corner Blog is added to the Society website |
April 2018 | The Society receives a National Maritime Heritage Grant to assist in the development of the Lighthouse Research Catalog from the National Park Service |
August 2018 | The Lighthouse Research Catalog is renamed “The J. Candace Clifford Lighthouse Research Catalog” in honor of Ms Clifford |
November 2018 | Society's Wayne Wheeler Library moved to Mariner's Museum |
May 2019 | The Society releases the J. Candace Clifford Lighthouse Research Catalog |
June 2019 | Society releases the first episode of "Light Hearted" the Society's Podcast |
March 2020 | Society releases the first of its History Videos on its website. |
May 2020 | Society announces Emergency Relief Grants due to the Covid Pandemic |
June 2020 | Society takes control of Point Wilson Lighthouse WA Property and opens first building for Vacation Rental |
July 2020 | Release of the first Bright Ideas history discussion on its website |
August 2020 | Completion of major restoration of the Thomas Point Shoal MD Lighthouse |