 When we visit a National Park, we hope to escape the noise of technology. But most of us use technology to get to a national park. We use GPS to navigate to our destination. During our visit, we also take selfies and post them on Instagram.
Technology has made it easier for us to be involved with national parks. The apps Parks Wildlife, Oh Ranger! ParkFinder helps find the nearest park, activities, and park fees. For those less adventurous, many parks offer virtual tours. Technology can also inspire us to connect with nature. Perhaps the complexity of our digital world compels us to draw closer to the beauty, quiet and simplicity of nature. All in all, this is how we visit national parks in the 21st century and connect with nature and ourselves.
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 America’s Best Idea - Wallace Stegner
Every President since President Franklin D. Roosevelt has proclaimed a week in April as National Park Week. President Theodore Roosevelt, also called the “conservation president,” established 150; national forests, 51 bird preserves, 4 game preserves, 5 national parks and 18 national monuments. Twenty eight states have National Parks. There are over 6,600 park sites in the United States. This week President Biden asks Americans to “celebrate the splendor of our National Parks and show appreciation for the Department of the Interior and National Park Services stewardship of them.”  By popular demand! The Art Guild of Orange Park juried exhibit, “Capturing the Moment” has been extended until June at the Thrasher Horne.
The Thrasher Horne Art Center, Orange Park, Florida features national touring musicians and performers, Broadway musicals and cultural events. The juried exhibit, “Capturing the Moment” is on display during all musical performances and cultural events. Discover colorful oil paintings, watercolors and more. My painting, “Island Lighthouse” is part of the exhibit. My painting, “Island Lighthouse” is part of the exhibit. The beautiful, statuesque brick lighthouse stands solemnly upon cascading stairs like an Mayan temple. The plush green foliage surrounding it seemed to bow in submission. The Art Gallery is open 11 am-3 pm, Monday through Friday.  Touted as the safest ship built, the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912.
Of the 1279 passengers on the Titanic 319 had first class passage, 269 second class, 699 third. Those in first class were wealthy businessmen, famous entertainers, high ranking military, and professional athletes. Among the second were professors, authors, tourists and clergymen. Most of the third class were immigrants seeking a new life. All shared the same tragic fate when the Titanic sank. Over 1500 people died. One year after the Titanic sank, the Titanic Memorial Lighthouse and Time Ball was built atop Seamen’s Church in 1913 to honor the Titanic victims. Five minutes each day before noon the time ball dropped. The time ball inspired the New Year’s Eve Times Square ball drop. In 1976, the lighthouse and time ball was donated to South Seaport Museum and moved to Titanic Memorial Park in Manhattan.  When Ponce De Leon christened the state “La Florida '' on April 2, 1513 in honor of the Eastertime celebration Pascua Florida or Feast of Flowers, he mistakenly thought he had landed on Island. No wonder! Florida has a coastline of 1,100 miles.
Florida has the second largest coastline in the United States. Most of its coastline is bordered by beaches, and about 50 percent exists in its natural state. Most of these unspoiled beaches are in the northern part of the state. Florida's coastline provides a natural habitat for many wildlife. Florida has 31 lighthouses including one that is a private residence. Amelia Island Lighthouse is Florida's oldest lighthouse. Originally built to guide vessels entering the St. Mary’s River and the Atlantic Ocean, it was dismantled brick by brick and transported by ship to Amelia Island. After being reconstructed, the lighthouse was lit in 1839 as Amelia Island Lighthouse. Ponce de Leon Lighthouse at 175 feet is the tallest lighthouse in the state. Completed in 1887, it took over a million bricks to build the Ponce de Leon lighthouse. The Tierra Verde lighthouse built in 2005 overlooks Florida's largest estuary, Tampa Bay. It is Florida’s newest lighthouse. Built in 1902, St. Joseph Point Lighthouse was a working lighthouse for several decades before being declared surplus. In 1979, the present owner moved his private lighthouse to its current location.  Located on white sandy shores off the azure waters of the Gulf Coast, Gasparilla Island is an ideal escape for lighthouse lovers and snow birds. The Boca Grande Lighthouse and Gasparilla Lighthouse offer much to explore.
The Barrier Island celebrated Florida Lighthouse Day April 13 with climbs to the Gasparilla Lighthouse and Boca Grande Lighthouse, food and lots more. Boca Grande Lighthouse has a museum and is a few feet away from a sparkling beach. The Historic Gasparilla Lighthouse was built in 1881 as the Delaware Breakwater Rear Range Light in Lewes, Delaware. In 1921 it was disassembled and transported to Florida. After a delay due to funding, the lighthouse was reassembled in 1927 and installed on Gasparilla Island.  Inspired by the Greek Choragic Monument of Lysicrates, the beautiful Portland Breakwater Lighthouse in Maine was built in 1874. The Greek Revival building is the crown jewel of Bug Light Park. The architect of Portland Breakwater Lighthouse also designed the dome of the US Capitol.
The original Greek Choragic Monument was built near the Acropolis of Athens. This was the first time Corinthians columns were constructed on the exterior of a building. My painting of the lighthouse captures the elegance and strength of the Corinthian columns surrounding the lighthouse. The cupola that crowns the lighthouse is painted as a diadem to symbolize its majesty.  I love Hillsboro Lighthouse. The idyllic setting reminds me of Gilligan's Island. While the castaways were marooned, thankfully tour boats departed and embarked regularly. The Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society has a tour scheduled for this Saturday, May 15.
Swaying palms trees and calming azure water, belies Hillsboro Lighthouse’s noble purpose. The lighthouse was built after four centuries of wrecks on area reefs. It has a black and white day mark. The top of the lighthouse is painted black to make it visible above the trees. The bottom white half contrasts against the trees. My painting contrasts the day mark of the lighthouse against a peaceful and tropical setting.  Surveying a city map of Evanston, Illinois, I was surprised not to see any map symbols or references for the Grosse Point Lighthouse. It’s within walking distance from the center of downtown; the omission of the lighthouse on the map puzzled me.
Evanston was once called Grosse Point hence Grosse Point Lighthouse. It really seemed sadly ironic that part of its history was erased by the exclusion of the lighthouse on the map. Because the city once petitioned Congress for ownership of the lighthouse, I remained baffled. Still the city of Evanston was a good caretaker of the lighthouse. It was in excellent condition. Grosse Point Lighthouse is one of the most stunning lighthouses I have visited. I marveled at the immense Keepers House four stories high. Double doors marked the entrance to the lighthouse. The large sloping red road complimented the plush green lawn. Trees adorned the grounds and provided a picturesque backdrop.  When I was told to draw Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse away from grounds and in the parking lot, I felt dismayed and disconnected. I then wondered if I should have asked for permission in the first place! Still I knew even in the parking lot, I would be able to see most of the lighthouse.
Lighthouses are pretty hard to hide. As one writer stated " The very nature of a lighthouse is to stand out: by it's height, cost, technical complexity, complex construction, techniques, isolation and spectacular appearance." Peering at the lighthouse from the parking lot, I transferred my feelings to the painting. Standing guard over an oil storage house that resembles a deserted dwelling, the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse soars behind trees in the distance. |
AuthorWhen I am not traveling to or painting lighthouses, I am writing or researching lighthouses. Archives
May 2022
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