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USLM 2025 summer activities
- Kids in Boating Day" June 15
- A macabre anniversary
- Independence Day week: Harbor fireworks July 2
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“Swing” back to the historic 1940s on LV-112
- What is “Secret Boston…”?
| | 'Kids in Boating Day' — June 15 | | On Sunday, June 15, from 11am – 2pm, Nantucket Lightship/LV-112 will participate in “Kids in Boating Day,” held at the Boston Harbor Shipyard & Marina, where the historic Nantucket Lightship/LV-112 is berthed. Nantucket/LV-112 is a former floating lighthouse that today is a museum ship. Visitors will be given a tour of Nantucket/LV-112, explore maritime history and learn nautical crafts. Scroll down for more information in second story below. | | The painting shows Nantucket Lightship/LV-117 being rammed by the RMS Olympic in heavy fog, May 15,1934 (91 years ago) within the North Atlantic sea lanes, steaming into the Port of New York. Nantucket Lightship marked the beginning of the North Atlantic shipping lanes for transatlantic shipping entering and leaving the United States and Europe — also referred to as the "Times Square of the Atlantic." For more information about the RMS Olympic / Nantucket/LV-117 incident, click here. Credit: Painting by Charles Mazoujian (1917–2011). The painting was commissioned by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) as part of the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976. | | The construction of Nantucket Lightship/LV-112 was paid for by the White Star Line and the British government, as a result of the collision and sinking of Nantucket/LV-117 by the RMS Olympic on May 15, 1934. Nantucket/LV-112, a former U.S. Coast Guard "floating lighthouse" and the largest U.S. lightship ever built, annually attracts hundreds of visitors from around the world. | | |
More about 'Kids in Boating Day' —
A day of learning and fun!
| | At "Kids in Boating Day" on June 15, young visitors can take a turn at ringing Nantucket Lightship’s 1,200-pound fog bell. Visitors also will be offered a tour of the historic lightship, explore maritime history and can learn nautical crafts, such as tying various boating knots. For more information on the event, click here. | | Signal flags flying from Nantucket Lightship/LV-112's foremast with its auxiliary duplex 500mm lens lanterns. Each beacon is equipped with an auxiliary fourth-order Fresnel lens that operates independently (14-mile range), if needed as a backup light, in case the main rotating light beacon (23-mile range) fails. | | A youngster takes the helm in the Nantucket’s pilot house. | | James Keating, from Marblehead, MA, is an expert in artistic marlinspike seamanship skills who will be on board the Nantucket during “Kids in Boating Day,” offering boating-knot instruction and exhibiting his marlinespike seamanship crafts. In the photo, he is teaching attendees at a previous marlinespike seamanship class held on board Nantucket/LV-112. Jim’s experience and presentations in marlinspike seamanship has been varied. He has worked on historical sites such as the Boston Tea Party Ship, U.S.S. Constitution and U.S.S. Constitution Museum in Boston. Other notable sites in Massachusetts include the Peabody Essex Museum and the House of the Seven Gables in Salem. | | Keating has also given lectures at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, Salem Maritime National Historic site, Salem State University, Marblehead Festival of the Arts, and the Marblehead Christmas Walk. However, his most prestigious work was done for the Queen of England. On a return visit to England in 1977 to row in the Royal Henley Regatta, he received an invitation to Buckingham Palace. He made a presentation of his marlinspike work to the Queen in honor of her 25th Jubilee. | | A Boston Fire Rescue boat will also be available for tours at the event. | | A youngster receives instruction from a Massport Fire Rescue fireman on how to use the water cannon on board the Fire Rescue boat. | | We appreciate the vital service that first-responder boats provide to Boston Harbor's commercial and recreational boats, including the Fire, and Harbor Police boats, U.S. Coast Guard and emergency tow boats. | | |
Celebrate Boston Harbor Fireworks
from the decks of Nantucket Lightship/LV-112
Wednesday, July 2, Independence Day Week
| | City of Boston skyline as seen from Nantucket Lightship/LV-112. | | |
WHEN: Wednesday, July 2, from 7pm to 10pm (the fireworks are scheduled to start around 9pm).
WHO'S INVITED: Anyone who wants to reserve a spot and join us on Nantucket/LV-112's weather deck, with friends and family, to watch a spectacular fireworks display in Boston's inner harbor. Nantucket/LV-112's berth has one of the best views of Boston's vibrant city skyline from the East Boston waterfront.
| | Nantucket/LV-112 is the perfect venue for watching the Boston Harbor fireworks. Photo: Bob Metell | | |
WHAT TO BRING: Picnic supper, your favorite beverages, beach/lawn chairs to sit on the decks of Nantucket/LV-112, which will remain at the dock. We'll supply the ship, panoramic views and lively music. The ship's powerful rotating light beacon will be activated just before the fireworks begin.
WHY: This is a fundraising event for LV-112, for which we still have much work to do; visit our Facebook page. The ship's restoration solely depends on the generous contributions of corporations, private foundations, federal, state and municipal grants, maritime enthusiasts and individuals such as you.
RESERVATIONS: We request a $35 donation per person. Tickets can be purchased by clicking on EventBrite.
WHERE: LV-112 is berthed at the Boston Harbor Shipyard & Marina, 256 Marginal St., East Boston, MA; directions. There's free street parking next to the shipyard, but it's limited due to holiday weekend volume.
Best option is public transportation. Approximately a 15-minute walk from the MBTA Subway Blue Line, Maverick Station, or from Lewis Mall Park (MBTA ferry to East Boston); view walking route. A water taxi service is also available (Red Top Boats, 617.982.3298).
For more information, contact: 617.797.0135 or email.
| | Just before the fireworks begin, LV-112's main rotating light beacon will be activated, as shown during National Lighthouse Day. | | A 1940s History Gala with Hedy Lamarr on Boston Harbor — July 26 | | Step back in time to the 1940s! Enjoy the Golden Age of Hollywood filled with music, art, live performances, and stunning views of Boston's historic skyline at sunset on historic Nantucket Lightship/LV-112, in service during Hollywood’s Golden Age. This event is a History at Play production. For more information and ticket sales, log on to Eventbrite. | | | | |
Hedy Lamarr (1914–2000) was an Austro-Hungarian-born American actress and inventor. A Hollywood star during its golden age, she was known for her beauty and screen presence. Lamarr's film career included roles in Ecstasy (1933), Algiers (1938), Lady of the Tropics (1939), and her greatest success, Samson and Delilah (1949). She also acted in television and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. Lamarr was also passionate about science and invention.
At the beginning of WWII, Hedy Lamarr collaborated with the U.S. Navy in co-inventing a radio guidance system for Allied torpedoes using “frequency hopping.” The patent was codeveloped with avant-garde composer George Antheil in 1941. Today, her innovation helped make possible a wide range of wireless communications technologies, including Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth.
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Nantucket Lightship/LV-112 featured in
'Secret Boston: An unusual guide'
| | "Secret Boston: An Unusual Guide" reveals Boston's lesser-known history and unique attractions. Nantucket/LV-112 is featured on pages 262-263. Readers can appreciate the book's concise, informative descriptions and its focus on "hidden gems" that go beyond the typical tourist destinations. The 288-page paperback is compact enough to stuff in your knapsack for reference when on a journey to discover unique and interesting sites to explore and learn from. It can be found in book stores and on Amazon. | | The U.S. Lightship Museum is now a member of 'Museums for All' | | |
The U.S. Lightship Museum (USLM) has joined Museums for All, a signature access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), to encourage people of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum-going habits. The program supports those receiving food assistance (SNAP) benefits, who can visit Nantucket/LV-112 for free, up to four people, with the presentation of a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. Similar free and reduced admission is available to eligible members of the public at more than 850 museums across the country. Museums for All is part of the USLM’s broad commitment to seek, include and welcome all audiences. For more information about Museums for All, click here.
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How you can
help Nantucket/LV-112's
light beacon keep shining
| All electronic donations will be securely processed by PayPal | |
Attention lighthouse lovers
If you love lighthouses and want to learn about these guiding lights and navigational aids all over the world, then The Lighthouse Directory is the website for you. It provides an astounding amount of information, linking to more than 17,200 of the world's lighthouses. Russ Rowlett, Adjunct Professor of Mathematics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, compiled the directory with the assistance of hundreds of lighthouse fans around the world who have enriched this site with their own information and suggestions. For a long time, Rowlett tried to maintain a list of lighthouses from his many friends and contacts, but it had grown too long (and too out-of-date) to display on the comprehensive site. Rowlett offers special thanks to Michel Forand for his suggestions and editing, touching essentially every page of the directory, and Jeremy D'Entremont, Ted Sarah and Klaus Huelse, each contributing in vital ways.
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The Maine Lighthouse Museum
Another unique educational resource for U.S. lighthouse history, lifesaving and lightship services is the Maine Lighthouse Museum (MLM), located in Rockland, Maine, the heart of the midcoast. Last October, the U.S. Lightship Museum presented a PowerPoint presentation at the MLM about U.S. lightships and Nantucket/LV-112. The mission of the Maine Lighthouse Museum is to educate the public regarding the longstanding traditions, heroism and progress of America's lighthouse and lifesaving services and the U.S. Coast Guard through the conservation and interpretation of the nation's most significant collection of lighthouse and lifesaving artifacts. From sparkling lighthouse lenses to heartwarming stories of the keepers and their families, the Maine Lighthouse Museum is truly America's lighthouse museum. For more information, log on to the Maine Lighthouse Museum or call 207.594.3301.
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Support LV-112's restoration!
Become a USLM member today
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For a gift of $1,000 or more, donors will receive a limited-edition, fine-art print of the SS United States passing Nantucket Lightship/LV-112, painted by Gerald Levey.
Discover the value-added membership benefits when you become a member of the U.S. Lightship Museum (USLM). The USLM is a member of the Council of American Maritime Museums (CAMM). All USLM members will be granted reciprocal privileges (free admission) at participating CAMM institutions. For more information about the benefits and the USLM Membership program, click on USLM Membership.
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ACK Marine and General Contracting, LLC
American Express
Amex Industrial
Services, Inc.
Association of Public Safety Communications Officials - Atlantic Chapter
BAE Systems
Battery Wharf Hotel
Bluefin Robotics
Boston Forge & Welding Corp.
Boston Harbor
Shipyard & Marina
The Boston Foundation
ThreeBees Fund
Boston Marine Society
Burnham Associates, Inc.
Burnham Marine
California Public Safety Radio Association
Cameron International Corporation
Charitable Adult Rides and
Services, Inc.
City of Boston
Community Preservation Act
C/J Towing & Recovery
Claflin & Son
Nautical Antiques
Crandall Dry Dock Engineers
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Capt. Robertson P. Dinsmore Fund
Donahue, Tucker &
Ciandella, PLLC
East Boston Foundation
Eastern Bank Charitable
Foundation
Eastern Salt Company
Egan Maritime Institute,
Nantucket Shipwreck &
Lifesaving Museum
Fitzgerald Shipyard
Foss Maritime
Friends of the
Boston Harbor Islands
H&H Propeller, Inc.
J. Hewitt Marine
Electrical Services
SR Johnson Fund
Kelly Automotive Group
H.F. Lenfest Fund
The Lightship Group, LLC
Marine Systems Corporation
Massachusetts Historical Commission
McAllister Towing &
Transportation Co.
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)
Melvin's Welding
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Joe and Pepette Mongrain
Fund
National Park Service
Save America's Treasures
National Trust for
Historic Preservation
New England
Lighthouse Lovers
New London Maritime Society and Custom House Maritime Museum
Patriot Marine, LLC
Red Top Boats Water Taxi
The Sail Loft, LLC, Nantucket
Sea Tow Boston
Sherwin-Williams
Industrial Marine Coatings Division
State Street Corporation
T & M Services
Town of Oyster Bay,
Long Island, NY
U.S. Coast Guard Lightship Sailors Association
U.S. Lighthouse Society
West Marine
Westerbeke Company
Verizon Foundation
Zuni Maritime Foundation
USS Zuni / USCG Tamaroa
Individual Donors
USLM Members
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Nantucket/LV-112
Proudly made in USA
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USLM is a member
of the following organizations
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Teach children about lightships
with the book Lightship
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Editorial From School Library Journal
Kindergarten–Grade 2: Lightships were anchored where lighthouses could not be built. They protected our ocean harbors as well as points along the Great Lakes. The last one (Nantucket/LV-613) was decommissioned in 1983, so this fascinating picture book is a piece of nautical history. Brian Floca's watercolor drawings depict daily life aboard one of these vessels, cooking, sleeping, working, all the while rolling with the rhythm of the waves. Many hazards were involved. Big ships came too close, anchors lost their mooring, and weather caused many problems. But when the fog rolled in, the lightship sprang into action. Lights flashed and horns sounded, allowing ship traffic to make it "through fog and night, past rocks and shoals, past reefs and wrecks, past danger." The drawings are very detailed. Some pages are collages of small scenes. Many are full spreads. The sailors' facial expressions are amusing to watch, and the resident cat appears on almost every page. The front and back endpapers show a cutaway view of one of the vessels. This fascinating, little-known slice of history should prove interesting to every child who loves big boats.
-- Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI (review originally published by Reed Business Information, Inc.)
The book Lightship, by Brian Floca, can be purchased on Amazon.com. For more information about lightships, click on Brian Floca's blog.
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Poem posted on LV-112 while in service on Nantucket Shoals Lightship Station
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"When a sailor gets to thinking
He is one of the best
Let him ship out on a lightship
And take the acid test.
And if he feels like bragging
I don't think that all of his tales
Will be of deep sea sailing
But of the ship that never
Sails!"
Poem provided by Peter Brunk, USCG-Ret., Commanding Officer, Nantucket/LV-112, 1970-71, who serves on the USLM Board of Directors.
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This comprehensive New England shipwreck website is a helpful resource for SCUBA divers, maritime history researchers and enthusiasts. The site includes many photographs, charts, reference documents and history about numerous shipwrecks located in New England waters. For more information, click here.
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The Sinking of the U-853 by Capt. William Palmer
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When the German enemy submarine U-853 entered U.S. waters off Portland, Maine, in 1945, it torpedoed and sank the USS Eagle-56. Nantucket/LV-112, converted to the examination vessel USS Nantucket (1942-45) during WWII, helped save the crew of the USS Eagle-56. This is a book about the U-853 story, researched and written by Capt. Bill Palmer, a long-time shipwreck researcher, diver and preservationist.
Book description: "Out in the cold Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Rhode Island, lies the remains of what was once a feared and mighty hunter. It's not a fish or shark, for that matter it is not even a marine creature. It's what men feared the most when they went to sea aboard their vessel back during the World War II years. It's a German submarine called a U-boat. The U-853 was the last German submarine sunk in World War II. She was sunk with all hands just minutes before World War II ended. The once mighty hunter feared by all who put to sea, now lies in 130 feet of water off the coast of Block Island, Rhode Island, her grave marked only by a circle on the nautical charts, DANGER Unexploded Depth Charges, May 1945."
Capt. Palmer has been running a charter boat for wreck-diving, shark-fishing and shark-cage-diving off the coast of Rhode Island and Connecticut for 40 years.
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German U-boat attack off Portland, Maine, during WWII, involving LV-112 (USS Nantucket)
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This book is the story of a small U.S. sub-chaser, the Eagle 56, caught in the crosshairs of a German U-boat, the U-853, whose brazen commander doomed his own crew in a desperate, last-ditch attempt to record final kills before his country's imminent defeat a few weeks later in May. And it is the account of how one man, Paul M. Lawton, embarked on an unrelenting quest for the truth and changed naval history.
| | "The Finest Hours—" Book and Movie | |
"In February of 1952, one of the worst storms to ever hit the East Coast struck New England, damaging an oil tanker off the coast of Cape Cod and literally ripping it in half. On a small lifeboat faced with frigid temperatures and 70-foot high waves, four members of the U.S. Coast Guard (Bernie Webber and three other crewmen) set out to rescue the more than 30 stranded sailors trapped aboard the rapidly sinking vessel. 'The Finest Hours' is the story of their heroic mission, which is still considered the greatest small boat rescue in Coast Guard history."
(Michelle McCue, 9/9/14)
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Bernie Webber, who later served on Nantucket/LV-112 (1958-60) and the three other crewmen were awarded the coveted USCG Gold Lifesaving Medal for their heroism in what is considered by maritime historians to be "the greatest small boat rescue in Coast Guard history." Mr. Webber, who was a member of the USCG Lightship Sailors Association, was extremely helpful in assisting the USLM-Nantucket/LV-112 compile research information and historic documents about LV-112. He was a pleasure and honor to work with. Bernie passed away in January 2009. He was considered a real American hero and is dearly missed.
| | The full-length movie "The Finest Hours' is available on DVD. | |
Explore the oceans in depth and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution with
Oceanus magazine
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Oceanus explores the oceans in depth, highlighting the research and researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in news, features and interviews written by magazine staff, with full-color photographs and illustrations. Each issue covers a wide spectrum of oceanography, spanning coastal research, marine life, deep-ocean exploration and the ocean's role in climate, as well as ocean technology and policy. To learn more, click on magazine cover.
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Lightships, Lighthouses & Lifeboat Stations: A memoir and history
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Lightships, Lighthouses & Lifeboat Stations is part history book, part memoir, written by Bernie Webber, recipient of the Coast Guard's highest award, the Gold Life-saving Medal, and hero of the Disney movie The Finest Hours. While the public will recognize Webber's name from the movie and the bestselling book by the same name, few people know that during his lengthy Coast Guard career he served on lightships (ships anchored in dangerous areas to warn other vessels of hazards) in addition to lifeboat stations (small boat rescue stations) and lighthouses. Webber poses the following question: "How did the lightship men cope with the isolation, constant loneliness, boredom, fear, or just sheer terror? All were part of life on board a lightship. Rough seas tossed the ship about, rearing up and down on the anchor chain. This was a world of isolation, noise from operating machinery, and blasts from the powerful foghorn that went on for hours, sometimes days, at a time." Webber answers that question in this book, drawing on a combination of personal experience and meticulous historical research. Discussions of men going mad, lightships being run down by larger ships, anchor chains breaking, and lightships cast upon shoals are offset by humorous stories and the author's reflections on his best days at sea. Fourteen historic photos are included, as well as a foreword by Michael Tougias (reprinted from Amazon).
| | Help support the restoration of LV-112 by donating your old car and receive a tax deduction | | |
How it works
We have teamed with Charitable Auto Resources, Inc. (CARS), to accept vehicle donations across the United States. Once you contact our customer service representative about making a donation, everything will be taken care of, including a receipt for your tax records. Sale proceeds will be donated to the USLM in your name. Donating your vehicle to the U.S. Lightship Museum is as easy as calling our representative toll-free at 855-500-7433. For more information, click here.
| | The Lightships of Cape Cod | | | | Authored by Frederic L. Thompson, 1996, 2nd printing, 112 pages, soft wrap. Signed by the author. Illustrated with over 93 beautifully detailed photographs. Much sought-after, this scarce volume chronicles the history of the lightships in this vital area. Wonderfully detailed black-and-white photographs enhance the author's vivid description of the history and life aboard these vessels. One of the only volumes ever written exclusively on this subject, this fine work will make a fine addition to any library. Price: $14.95 plus shipping ($5.95), total: $20.90. May be purchased online from the USLM; just click on "Donate" button in this newsletter and add a notation in the area provided. Or mail a check or money order addressed to: U.S. Lightship Museum, PO Box 454, Amesbury, MA 10913 | |
At left, students visit LV-112's pilot house and pretend they are steering the lightship. At right, a crew member rings the bell on the foredeck of Nantucket New South Shoal No. 1 during low-visibility storm conditions. The illustration is from "Life on the South Shoal Lightship" by Gustov Kobbe, Century Magazine, August 1891.
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Kenrick A. Claflin & Son Nautical Antiques
Lighthouseantiques.net
| Click on the website link above to see nautical artifacts available at Kenrick A. Claflin & Son Nautical Antiques, which has donated publications to the USLM. | | |
The United States Lightship Museum
The U.S. Lightship Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the rescue and preservation of Nantucket Lightship/LV-112, a National Historic Landmark and a National Treasure. LV-112 is a museum and floating learning center, open to the general public -- a place for people of all ages to learn about our nation's seafaring history and the technologies that advanced the nautical and marine sciences.
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