The National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000 (NHLPA) provides an opportunity for the preservation of federally-owned historic light stations by allowing them to be transferred to federal and state agencies and private entities. (54 USC §§ 305101-305106)
The NHLPA is administered jointly by the National Park Service, U.S. Coast Guard, General Services Administration, and State Historic Preservation Officers.
James Brook, United States Navy. 2005
What's an historic light station?
An historic light station is a property that can include any or all of the following: light tower, lighthouse, keeper’s dwelling, barn, boat house, fog signal building, garages, oil house, piers, pumphouse, storage sheds, tramhouse support structures, underlying and appurtenant (easements or covenants) land, walkways, related real property and improvements.
What historic light stations are available?
When historic light stations are determined to be excess to the needs of their federal owners, the General Services Administration (GSA) issues Notices of Availability (NOA). To see NOAs for currently available historic lights visit the GSA NHLPA NOA webpage.
Only excess historic light stations that are either listed in or determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) can be transferred through the NHLPA. Light stations that aren't eligible for listing in the NRHP are disposed of through other processes such as GSA Auctions.
What does it cost to acquire an historic light station?
Nothing. Available historic light stations are transferred under the NHLPA at no cost to their new stewards.
Who can apply?
- Any department or agency of the Federal Government
- Any department or agency of the State in which an historic light station is located
- The local government of the community in which an historic light station is located
- Nonprofit corporations
- Educational agencies
- Community development organizations
I'm interested in applying! What do I need to know?
Anyone interested in acquiring an available historic light station must:
- fall under one of the 6 categories listed above (Who can apply?)
- agree to comply with the conditions in section 305104 of the NHLPA
- agree to have the conditions recorded with the Deed of Title to the historic light station
- be financially able to maintain the property and structures in accordance with section 305104
- make the historic light station available for education, park, recreation, cultural, or historic preservation purposes for the general public at reasonable times and under reasonable conditions.
I meet the critera above. How do I apply for an historic light station?
Visit our Application Information webpage for more information.
Do I have to maintain any active Federal aids to navigation (ATON)?
No. Under NHLPA section 305104 (b) (Maintenance of Aid to Navigation) you're not required to maintain any active Federal aids to navigation that are associated with the historic light station.
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) maintains active ATONs. The USCG reserves the right to maintain active ATONs even after an historic light station has been transferred to a new steward. (54 USC section 305104 (a)(1-3, 8))
What if I want to...
Change parts of the historic light station? Use it for commercial purposes? Sell it? Sell any of the structures or artifacts associated with it? I can't maintain the historic light station anymore?
All of these questions and more are answered in 54 USC section 305104
Mtbangert, Wikimedia Commons. 2012
Last updated: July 24, 2024