United States Lighthouse Service

The United States Lighthouse Service was a government agency responsible for maintaining and operating navigational aids like lighthouses, lightships, and fog signals along U.S. coastlines from 1852 until 1939. Its purpose was to ensure safe maritime navigation by guiding ships safely through hazardous areas, preventing accidents and shipwrecks. In 1939, it merged with the Coast Guard, incorporating lighthouse management into the broader federal maritime safety operations. Today, the Coast Guard continues to oversee these aids, but the Lighthouse Service played a vital role in maritime safety during its existence.