The earliest lighthouses were simply bonfires built on hillsides to guide ships. Later lighthouses were developed as a result of ships traveling on perilous waters, only to fall victim to rocks or unseen shoals. The first beacons recorded in writing were built by the Greeks in the fifth and sixth centuries B.C. to mark the entrances of harbours, such as Piraeus. Nowadays, Maine is Mecca of lighthouses. There are more than 60 lights along Maine's craggy Down East peninsulas. Just over the New Hampshire border offshore from the town of Kittery sits Whaleback Light. A few miles north are the charming towns of York and York Beach--home of one of the most-photographed lights in Maine, Cape Neddick Light. South of Portland, there are historic lights of Casco Bay and Cape Elizabeth that include Maine's oldest light. Offshore from Portland Head is the light on Ram Island Ledge. Maine lighthouses are being strongly preserved as evidenced by the large number of local preservation societies and trusts. All but a handful of Maine's lighthouses now have local support groups.
For real lighthouse fans there are famous Lefton Lighthouses that are one of the few illuminated lighthouses replicas on the market. Each light has been carefully researched and designed and captured every intricate detail and colors of the original. Each comes with an embossed foil hand tag, detailing the construction, location and history of the lighthouse. Historic American Replica Lefton Lighthouses are permanently mounted on thick, solid nautical pine decking. Then the wooden decking is grooved to simulate a pier, wrapped in trademark white nautical rope, stained in a warm tone, and top-coated with a finish for permanence and protection. The lamp is completed with an antique tan parchment shade and a brass finial. The lamp is 3-way wired, providing a choice of lighting effects--illuminate the lighthouse alone; the lamp only; or the lighthouse and lamp together. With this unique feature, each becomes an accent light, a night light or a guiding light whatever you choose.  There's a collection of illuminated Lefton lighthouses with rotating beacons. This series is slowly worked into the existing illuminated lighthouses series, replacing retired lights. The expanded series of rotating beacons or illuminated lights are wonderful examples of architectural splendor, delicately captured in Lefton's Historic American Lighthouse Collection. All of the Rotating Beacon-Illuminated Lefton lighthouses are now available as Lighthouse Table Lamps, ideally mounted on a wooden base, highlighted with nautical rope and adorned with an Old World design shade. Lighted replicas are being collected throughout the world which serves as an evidence of their universal appeal and recognition of their outstanding service to both the U.S. and world's mariners. Lefton's Historic American Lighthouse Collection also includes both Special Event and Limited Edition lighthouses. Each lighthouse describes the construction, location and history that is sure to appeal to lighthouse collectors and enthusiasts.