People who work as lighthouse keepers are responsible for keeping a lighthouse operational. A lighthouse keeper used to live on the premises and provide daily maintenance to the lighthouse, particularly the lens, any mechanical clockwork used in the facility’s operation, and the general condition of the structure. The number of active keepers has decreased over time as computer technology has enabled remote monitoring and control of lighthouse functions.
Lighthouses were still commonly used to guide ships safely to shore prior to the middle of the twentieth century. It was not uncommon for a lighthouse to be built on a cliff overlooking a sea or, on rare occasions, a lake. The lighthouse keeper could use various signals to indicate potential danger, such as rock formations along the coast or assisting a ship to safely navigate through a fog bank, in addition to providing light that served as a beacon for nearby ships.
The lighthouse keeper was normally on duty every day of the year. To keep the lighthouse operational at all times, daily tasks were required. A lighthouse keeper would trim the wicks on a regular basis and ensure that there was enough fuel to feed the wicks. The keeper would also keep all windows in the structure clear of any salt deposits or other elements that would obscure the keeper’s view of the waters, as well as clean and repair the lenses that allowed the beacons to be directed.
It was not uncommon for the lighthouse keeper and perhaps his family to make their home in the lighthouse itself. Some plans called for living quarters to be located on the structure’s lower levels. In other cases, a caretaker’s cottage was built within walking distance of the lighthouse, allowing the family to keep their living and working spaces separate. When lodgings were provided, the lighthouse keeper was usually given a lower wage in exchange for the free housing.
Lighthouse keeper jobs were once plentiful, but as technology advanced, the position became obsolete. Most lighthouses were fully automated by the turn of the century, and could be maintained with only occasional visits from construction and maintenance crews. Some lighthouses that have been designated as historical sites continue to have a lighthouse keeper assigned to them. The main function of a keeper today, however, is to act as the site’s tourism director, which includes giving tours of the facility.