Introducing the Lady Lighthouse Keepers Project

Welcome to the Lady Lighthouse Keepers project. Within this project, I am uniting my love of history, feminism, and lonely lighthouses on far off seas. As with many professions throughout history, the majority of lighthouse keepers were men. But what about the minority?

Many women throughout the 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s operated lighthouses. Often, they took the role after their husband or father died and managed until another man could be hired, but other women became lighthouse keepers on their own, holding down what was an intensely demanding job, both mentally and physically.

These are their stories.

I am undertaking research into the individual women who kept watch at America’s lighthouses and the way of life they built. All of my research will be available here on the blog, and you can also follow me on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook for updates.