Standards
Editorial Standards
The rules every article on this site must satisfy before it is published.
1. Sourcing hierarchy
We prefer, in order: (1) official agencies and original records — National Park Service, US Coast Guard Historian's Office, Trinity House, Northern Lighthouse Board, Commissioners of Irish Lights, hydrographic offices; (2) museums, archives and academic institutions; (3) engineering institutions and standards bodies; (4) manufacturer technical documentation; (5) professional media with named authors and correction practices. Blogs, forums and social posts are used at most as pointers to verifiable records — never as the basis for a factual claim.
2. Verification rules
Every article cites its sources in a visible Sources box, with the exact page, publisher and access date. Any date, number, or contested claim needs two independent sources. If reliable sources conflict, we say so in the text rather than picking silently. If a claim cannot be sourced, it does not run — including colorful details that would be nice to have.
3. Separating record from legend
Lighthouse history is unusually myth-prone. Where a popular story diverges from the documented record — the "1-4-3" flash legend at Minot's Ledge, for instance — the article addresses the legend explicitly and labels it as such. We do not repeat unsourced anecdotes as background color.
4. Independence
The site currently carries no advertising, sponsorships or affiliate links. Editorial decisions are independent of commercial influence. If our business model changes, we will disclose the change here and on the About page.
5. Corrections
Errors, once verified, are fixed and logged under our Corrections Policy. Challenging our facts is welcomed: write to [email protected].