The American Lighthouse Foundation recently presented Peter Ralston a Keeper of the Light award during the organization’s year-end gala, which was held at the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport. Ralston was recognized for his efforts in helping to create and guide the Maine Lights Program – on this, the 25th anniversary of its successful completion in 1998.

A quarter century ago, on June 20, 1998, those entities – both government entities and nonprofits who were obtaining one of 28 lighthouses being transferred through the Maine Lights Program – gathered on the lawn of the Samoset Resort to receive ceremonial deeds from the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. Thanks to the visionary efforts of Peter Ralston, this unprecedented achievement still shines on in a lasting and meaningful manner for many of Maine’s lighthouses today, according to American Lighthouse Foundation, in a news release.

It all started in April 1989 when the former keeper’s house at Heron Neck Light Station on Greens Island, Vinalhaven, suffered a fire that badly damaged the historic structure. At the time, the Coast Guard announced plans to demolish the structure. Preservationists and community members alike opposed such a plan and eventually the historic property was transferred to the Island Institute in Rockland. The Island Institute in turn partnered with private individuals who worked diligently to restore the fire-damaged keeper’s house in the years that followed.

The success of this project inspired Peter Ralston, then the Executive Vice President of the Island Institute, to approach the U.S. Coast Guard with a proposal so different, so broad in scope and so unlikely to occur, that of course, it was destined to work. While discussing options with the Coast Guard at the time, Ralston asked, “Why don’t we draft a piece of legislation that would effect a mass transfer of Maine’s lighthouses?” Such a groundbreaking idea – thought to be unfeasible when initially proposed, became the Maine Lights Program. The Maine Lights legislation was later approved as Federal law on October 19, 1996.

In a 2020 story entitled Keeping the Lights On by former Island Institute President Philip Conkling, the author noted, “By 1994 the Institute and the Coast Guard had worked out a process for the expedited transfer of eligible Maine lighthouses to other agencies and groups in exchange for maintaining the structures and providing public access to the transferred properties.” Conkling went on to note, “Two years after the completion of the property transfers, Congress passed the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. The act, modeled on the Maine Lights Program, established a national process for transferring any historic federal properties across the country to government agencies and private nonprofit groups.”

In part, what made the Maine Lights Program so vital to the well-being of Maine’s lighthouses – then and now, was that the process sought to identify long-term preservation solutions for many of the state’s historic light stations located on islands.

“The initiative was like no other in lighthouse history,” said Bob Trapani, Jr., American Lighthouse Foundation Executive Director. “It was replete with opportunities for preservation, adaptive reuse, public access and educational possibilities that were previously unattainable in both scope and impact. This was especially so for offshore lighthouses.”

“Although I conceived of what became the Maine Lights Program, not a single bit of it would – or could – have happened without the passion, commitment, hard work and faith of a great many others who wanted to ensure that Maine will never lose its lighthouse heritage, much less the lighthouses themselves,” said Peter Ralston. “The program initially bore fruit thirty years ago but what really counts is the sustained dedication – not to mention countless hours and dollars – expended since then. The lights of the Maine Lights Program burn brightly to this very day.”

“Congratulations to Peter Ralston – the American Lighthouse Foundation’s 2023 Keeper of the Light award recipient,” said the release.

The American Lighthouse Foundation’s Keeper of the Light award honors those individuals and organizations in the national lighthouse community who have contributed in a significant manner to the preservation of America’s lighthouses and their rich heritage.