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-- Interior Secretary Gale Norton today announced the selection
of the Gastineau Channel Historical Society as the first group to
receive a lighthouse in Alaska under the National Historic Lighthouse
Preservation Act of 2000. In a ceremony at the Juneau Federal Building
in which Governor Frank Murkowski and other federal, state and local
dignitaries participated, Norton announced that the Sentinel Island
Light Station will be transferred from the United States Coast Guard
to the historical society. Located about 23 miles north of Juneau,
the Sentinel Island station dates back to 1902 and includes 6.5
acres featuring an Art Deco lighthouse, shop, boat house, dock and
tramway. "Historic lighthouses like Sentinel Point are national
treasures," Norton said in making the announcement at the Federal
Building in Juneau. "This program recognizes the value of these
structures by transferring them to the best possible stewards for
their long-term preservation." The historical society already has
a six-year track record of leasing the site from the United States
Coast Guard and working on preserving the historic buildings at
Sentinel Island. Norton presented the transfer documents to the
Gastineau Channel Historical Society. Participating in the ceremony
were Governor Murkowski, U.S. Coast Guard Admiral James Underwood,
Kathryn Cohen and Gary Gillette of the Gastineau Channel Historical
Society, Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho, Senior Advisor to the Secretary
for Alaska Affairs Drue Pearce, National Park Service Regional Director
Marcia Blaszak, Tongass National Forest Supervisor Forrest Cole,
GSA Regional Supervisor Jon Kvistad and State Historic Preservation
Officer Judy Bittner. The Federal program allows the lighthouseto
be transferred to the Society at no cost. Non-profit groups receiving
lighthouses must use them for public purposes, such as education
programs, museums and maritime displays. Sentinel Island is one
of eight historic Alaska lighthouses that eventually will be transferred
under the program. The original Sentinel Island lighthouse, built
at the turn of the century, was one of the two earliest American-built
lighthouses in the Territory of Alaska. The current lighthouse was
built in 1935 of reinforced concrete. The tower rises 25 feet above
the main building and includes the original 13-foot lantern, which
flashed a white light with a 17-mile range. The lighthouse preservation
program calls for the Department of the Interior to decide the best
possible steward for some 300 lighthouses around the nation. These
may be private organizations, like the Gastineau Channel Historical
Society, or public agencies. "It's not surprising that historians,
lighthouse buffs, and involved citizens have been part of an effort
to rescue lighthouses. Many Americans love the history and lore
of lighthouses. Today's recognition of the local historical society
as the best recipient is a classic example of partnerships for the
good of preserving American history," Norton said. -DOI-
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Last modified on: January 23, 2004
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