As the Statue of Liberty celebrates it’s 125th. Anniversary this week, I would like to make reference to it’s vital connection to the old U.S. Lighthouse Services/ USLHS, the future home to the National Lighthouse Museum. As one may not know, the Statue of Liberty is the first lighthouse to be electrified and is the most famous lighthouse in the world!
When the Statue was first erected, it was put under the supervision of the USLHS the “SUPER” Depot for all lighthouses in the country, based in St. George, Staten Island, New York.

At the time, it was a costly lighthouse to keep and the Keeper of the Statue got paid $1,000 per year as opposed to the other Keepers getting $600 annually, as he needed to know about electricity and of course blackouts were quite frequent in 1886…The Statue of Liberty was a Centennial gift from France delivered 10 years late due to funding issues.

Ironically, the National Lighthouse Museum is also over 10 years late in it’s delivery…the Statue of Liberty had fundraising problems also…it took 10 years for the United States to build the pedestial to hold it, thus delaying the receiving of this centennial gift from France…The fundraising efforts were finally spearheaded by Joseph Pulitzer (noted for the Pulitzer Prize) who opened the editorial pages of his newspaper, “The World” to support the fundraising efforts. He used the paper to critize the rich who had failed to finance the pedestial construction and also the middle class who were content to depend upon the wealthy in hopes they would fund the project. Pulitzer’s harsh criticism was successful in motivating the people of America to donate.

Fast forward to May, 1982, when President Ronald Reagan appointed Lee Iacocca to head up a private sector effort to restore the Statue of Liberty thus implementing the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation…

Romer Shoal Lighthouse

10:00am to 1:00pm on board the New York Water Taxi

Departs from The Battery Slip 6

(Water Taxi Stop in front of Castle Clinton)

Subway: 1 to South Ferry, R/W to Whithall St. or 4/5 to Bowling Green

Special Guest Speakers from

The National Lighthouse Museum

Tickets: $60

Click here to purchase

On this tour you will see the following lighthouses:

* Statue of Liberty
* Robbins Reef Light
* Fort Wadsworth Light
* Coney Island Light
* Elm Tree Light (Miller Field)
* New Dorp Light
* West Bank Light
* Romer Shoal Light
* Sandy Hook Light
* Navesink (Twin Lights)
* Great Beds Light
* Princes Bay Light
* Old Orchard Shoal Light
* Staten Island Light

Note: The last Lighthouse Tour was sold out, so book now for your tickets!

Beacon: Artists Respond to 9/11
The National Lighthouse Museum, Staten Island, NY, will host a multimedia exhibit commemorating the 10th anniversary of 9/11, Sat-Sun Sept. 10-11, 1-7 pm and Sept. 17-18, 12-6 pm with an opening reception from 3-6pm on Sept.10th. A music/literary presentation will take place on 9/11 from 4-5:30.
Staten Island, NYC’s least populated borough, lost over 270 people on September 11th, nearly 80 of them first responders. Members of Staten Island’s cultural community will mark the occasion with an art exhibit and literary/musical program.  For the past ten years artists have struggled to express and to interpret their own feelings and those of their neighbors about the events surrounding the attacks on Sept. 11th, 2001. Their images, words, and music will articulate the varied experiences of members of the Staten Island community.
This multimedia event will be curated by poet, Marguerite Maria Rivas and painter, Sarah Yuster and will premiere Yuster’s painting Staten Island September.
Featuring the work of:
Visual Artists -  Irma Bohorquez • Willie Chu • Diane Matyas • Anne Marie McDonnell • Bill Murphy • John Patrick Naughton • Kristi Pfister • Sarah Yuster
Literary Artists – Kathryn Carse • Kathleen Haspel • Morna Murphy Martell • Marguerite Maria Rivas •  Patricia Murphy• Nanci Richards • Jim Tolan•  Susan Volchok • Frank Williams • Wil Wynn and musician Doug Principato.

For More Information Contact:
Sarah Yuster 917-817-6388
Marguerite Rivas  347-533-2613

Staten Island, September – oil on canvas 40″ x 54″
Yuster’s new piece, a hometown tribute, will be presented to the public for the first time. Her iconic painting of the Manhattan skyline, Victory Boulevard at Dawn, (1985) will be included in the show along with Firefighters Commemorative (2002) created through the NYC Council on the Arts: http://www.zographia.com/html/commemorative.html
Staten Island’s de facto poet laureate, Rivas will read her award-winning poem “Witness” in addition to curating works by established writers and poets, which will be presented by actors or the authors themselves.
The National Lighthouse Museum is a unique waterfront space located adjacent to the St. George Ferry Terminal. It is within walking distance of Masayuki Sono’s Postcards, Staten Island’s 9/11 memorial, which faces New York Harbor.

Join Lens Preservationist, Jim Dunlap, and members of the National Lighthouse Museum at the second lecture of our series. The topic will be the magnificently powerful Fresnel Lens. Jim will guide us through the history and creation of these lenses and how they are still used today.

Saturday, August 6
2:00-4:00pm
Staten Island Museum
75 Stuyvesant Place,
St. George, Staten Island
Members FREE/ Guests $20
WINE & CHEESE RECEPTION!

The National Lighthouse Museum cordially invites you to join us for the first lecture in a series. Terrestrial vs. Celestial…The Story of the Lighthouse.

June 2nd 2011

5:30

Seaman’s Society for Children and Families

50 Bay St.

Staten Island, NY