Lighthouses of North America
February 2005 Reviewed by: Marc Mickelson Format: DVD	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

A year and a half ago, I toured Heceta Head lighthouse on the coast of Oregon. It was staffed with passionate and knowledgeable volunteer guides who knew everything there was to know about the lighthouse, and on the grounds were other volunteers who pointed out sea birds on the rocks below and answered any questions the tour raised. The visit was an experience, not merely a quick walk through an unusual structure. This was my first lighthouse visit, and while it didn't turn me into a fanatic, it gave me greater appreciation for the unique beauty of lighthouses and their remote, wind-swept locations.

Lighthouses of North America, a one-hour direct-to-video feature, captures much of what made my tour of Heceta Head memorable. It is packed with information about picturesque lighthouses on both coasts, and the camerawork highlights these beacons of the sea in ways that are revealing. The lighthouses profiled include Pemaquid Point in Maine, Cape Cod in Massachusetts, St. Simons in Georgia, St. Augustine in Florida, New Dungeness in Washington, Yaquina Head in Oregon, and Point Arena and East Brother in California. Wayne Wheeler, president of the United States Lighthouse Society (and a dead ringer for a salty sea captain) is the onscreen expert and provides background on a number of the lighthouses profiled. He also tells us all about the Fresnel lens, which is to a lighthouse what the projector is to a theater. The largest of these multi-element lenses still produces light that can be seen over 20 miles out to sea. There are reminiscences and lots of period photographs, both of which convey well what it was like to be a lighthouse keeper. It was definitely not a life for someone who hates routine or needs lots of human contact.

There are no extra features on this DVD, and the video suffers from some motion artifacts -- noise around the edges of objects as perspective moves. The picture is bright and vivid, but the video noise can be a bit distracting.

One of the volunteers shown in the film observes that lighthouses in the US are like castles in Europe, underscoring their romantic charm and historical importance. I doubt this DVD will turn viewers into lighthouse aficionados, but it is a likable video souvenir for those who have visited the lighthouses shown, and an informative overview of lighthouses in the US.

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