Tracing the Evidence
The Records Behind Alaska’s Lighthouses
Explore the records and research behind each lighthouse story, from Mary Island Light to Point Retreat.
How We Verify the Past
Sources That Anchor Every Story
Alaska Lighthouses draws on public records, government publications, historical archives, and credible research to document the lights, keepers, and coastal routes featured across the site. Accounts of Mary Island Light, Point Retreat, and other light structures are checked against available primary sources whenever possible. Readers can verify a claim by consulting the cited record, noting its date and issuing agency, and comparing it with other contemporary evidence. We distinguish documented facts from recollections or interpretations, and flag details—such as a light’s current status—that may change as new records become available.
Explore Our Source Types
Public Records
Government Publications
Historical Archives
Credible Secondary Research
Records Behind Alaska’s Lights
- U.S. Lighthouse Board annual reports
- U.S. Lighthouse Service records and notices
- U.S. Coast Guard Light Lists
- NOAA historical nautical charts
- National Archives lighthouse records
- Library of Congress photographs and maps
- Mary Island Light station records
- Point Retreat Light station records
- Alaska State Archives collections
- Alaska Historical Society publications
- Historic American Buildings Survey documentation
- National Register of Historic Places nominations
- U.S. Geological Survey place-name records
- Federal Register notices and agency updates
- Coast Guard navigation notices
- Contemporary newspaper archives
- Local museum and historical society collections
- Digitized photographs with collection metadata
How to Check a Lighthouse Claim
Follow a page’s citation back to the original record, then compare its date and wording with the claim. Older sources may describe a different structure or period of operation.
1
Find the Citation
Locate the source note beside the statement or in the page’s references.
2
Open the Original
Use the linked archive or publication details to find the cited page, chart, or image.
3
Check the Context
Compare dates, place names, and descriptions; consult another record if accounts differ.
What Our Source Notes Mean
Documented Facts
Dates, locations, and design details are presented as facts when a cited record supports them.
Interpretations
Inferences drawn from photographs or incomplete records are labeled as interpretations, not established history.
Conflicting Accounts
When reliable records disagree, we describe the difference rather than choose a version without evidence.
Changing Details
Access, ownership, and navigational status may change; check current agency notices before relying on them.
Questions About Our Sources
Learn how Alaska Lighthouses checks historical claims and handles gaps, discrepancies, and corrections.
What sources support the lighthouse histories?
We prioritize government records, historical archives, nautical publications, and other traceable references. Check citations on each lighthouse page to review the evidence behind a claim.
Are government records always accurate?
Official records are valuable, but they can contain errors or reflect information available only at the time. We compare records where possible and identify details that remain uncertain.
Why is a date or detail missing?
Some records are incomplete, unavailable, or difficult to verify. Rather than fill gaps with assumptions, we leave unsupported details open and update them when credible documentation becomes available.
What happens when sources disagree?
We compare the sources' dates, purpose, and proximity to the event. When a conflict cannot be resolved, we note the differing accounts instead of presenting one as settled fact.
Can I verify a claim about Mary Island or Point Retreat?
Follow the references cited on the relevant page and look for the original record or publication. If a link no longer works, contact us with the claim so we can help identify its source.
How can I suggest a correction or new reference?
Send the page URL, the passage in question, and a citation or link to supporting evidence. We welcome scans and archival leads, but please include their origin and any known dates.
Phone
Have a credible source or a factual concern? Send the relevant page URL, a description of the issue, and any document title, date, archive reference, or link that helps us review it.
Address
For photographs or scans, please also include the creator, approximate date, holding collection, and any known reuse restrictions.