How we verify

Every entry on this site cites the sources behind the facts you see. Where claims could not be verified to a single source we trust, we mark them as open questions, and flag the entry with a verify before you drive warning so you double-check before you commit to a four-hour itinerary.

The source hierarchy we use

For each lighthouse we work from the most authoritative source we can find, in this order of preference:

1. The official site of the agency that owns or operates the lighthouse — National Park Service, U.S. Coast Guard, state parks, or the resident lighthouse association.
2. Government archives — USCG Historian's Office↗, HABS / HAER (Library of Congress)↗, and the Coast Guard Light List↗ for active aid status.
3. Established secondary sources — the U.S. Lighthouse Society, the Lighthouse Friends↗ historical archive (referenced, not copied), and reputable books listed on the resources page.
4. Wikipedia, only when corroborated against the above and only as a jumping-off point for further reading.

What we never do

• Invent facts to fill in blanks. Unknown stays unknown.
• Reuse copyrighted photos without verifying license — see the image rights note on the detail pages.
• Use AI to write entries from scratch. Editorial copy is written by humans, sourced from cited material.

Spot a mistake?

We are not lighthouse keepers. Hours and fees change. Tours get cancelled. Lenses get loaned out. Coastal access closes after a storm. If you visited a station and the entry was wrong, please email hello@lighthousecircuit.com with the lighthouse name and what changed.