Lighthouses of Texas Showcased in New Book

Dec. 20, 2013 - PRLog -- Lighthouses of Texas, the newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series, showcases the entire 367-mile long Texas Gulf Coast and the lighthouses that line its shores. Written by author, Steph McDougal, this pictorial history boasts more than 200 vintage images of the lighthouses along the Texas coast.

As author, Steph McDougal noted, “Without lighthouses marking the shoals, bars, jetties and narrow passes through barrier islands, the settlement of Texas by immigrants from all over Europe and Asia, as well as the American Upper South — creating a rich mix of Texan music, food, culture and traditions — would not have been possible.” Her new book showcases this history through vintage images along with entertaining and informative anecdotes.

Lighthouses of Texas chronicles lighthouse history in the state from when Texans won their independence from Mexico in 1836 to modern automated lighthouses of the 20^th century. Images of how lighthouses have changed throughout the decades provide readers with a visual history of the evolution of the structures, especially when many lighthouses today have been abandoned or are privately owned.  MacDougal hopes that this book “will spur lighthouse-related tourism along the Texas Gulf Coast and help to encourage the restoration of the remaining lighthouses, some of which are in deteriorated condition.”

Highlights of Lighthouses of Texas include:

•A week-long driving itinerary to lighthouses in Texas is included at the end of the book, creating a handy reference when planning travel.
•Information on how the position of lighthouse keeper was one of the first non-clerical U.S. Government jobs open to women.
•Information on the only Texas lighthouses that are open to the public: the Halfmoon Reef Lighthouse and the Port Isabel Lighthouse.

Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or online.

Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States.  Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places.  Have we done a book on your town?  Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com/.