U.S. Lightship Museum

The mission of the United States Lightship Museum (USLM) is to preserve and maintain Nantucket Lightship/LV-112 in perpetuity, reestablishing this National Historic Landmark in its homeport of Boston. It serves as a floating museum and learning center for the general public, chronicling the maritime history of the US Lightship Service from its inception in 1820 to its end in 1985.

Visitors will experience what lightship service was like for crewmembers living aboard these “floating lighthouses,” whose duty was to stay on their station regardless of conditions, faithfully and courageously guiding transoceanic commerce to and from the United States through dangerous seas.

About the National Maritime Historical Society

Since its beginnings in 1963, the National Maritime Historical Society has been celebrating the sea – raising awareness of our maritime heritage and the role seafaring has played in shaping civilization. Hundreds of thousands of readers have discovered in the pages of Sea History magazine a treasure-trove of tales, past and present, that captivate, inspire, and educate us about the vital role of the sea—and those who have sailed upon it.

The lessons that our seafaring legacy teaches, of courage and respect, teamwork and self-reliance, resourcefulness and grit, are timeless. And now, it is more important than ever to bring these lessons to the next generation—tomorrow’s maritime leaders.

Sea History 158 coverTo encourage the study of our heritage, NMHS proudly participates in National History Day, offering maritime prizes in this year-long educational program for middle and high school students. Sea History for Kids, long a popular feature in the magazine, is now available online. And thanks to National Maritime Heritage Grant funding from the National Park Service, scholars of all ages have unprecedented access to Sea History magazine research on the Society’s website seahistory.org.

The Society has a long history of involvement in other maritime education initiatives, like its monthly author lecture series and the preservation of its maritime library and collections, saving for future generations a treasure of maritime scholarship, literature and seafaring lore.

To keep those memories alive and well, the Society actively supports the production of short biographical films highlighting outstanding work in the field, as well as feature length documentaries on remarkable ships and maritime events. And to broaden knowledge, encourage partnerships, and keep the study of history current and relevant, the Society supports maritime heritage conferences and events across the country.

Nantucket Lightship/LV-112 Website