Most of us know of Pleasonton’s role as administrator of the U.S. Lighthouse Establishment from 1820 to 1852. Here is a piece that describes his role in saving important documents during the War of 1812. See Prologue: Pieces of History » The burning of Washington.
Month: August 2014
National Lighthouse Museum Opens on Staten Island
The National Lighthouse Museum will open in the old General Lighthouse Depot, Staten Island, on August 7, 2014, the 225th anniversary of George Washington signing the act that created the U.S. Lighthouse Establishment in 1789. A full weekend of events is planned as part of the celebration. The General Lighthouse Depot was once the central hub of the lighthouse system. According to the 1867 Annual Report of the U.S. Light-House Board, “Previous to the establishment of this depot the reserve material for the light-house service was stored in the several districts, involving the necessity for a multiplication of storage, buildings, mechanics, workmen, supplies …