Created as navigational tools, lighthouses are of interest to more than mariners; the ruggedly romantic nature of the beacons delights and enthralls thousands of admirers. Lights along the Virginia coast are no exception, from the richly historic Old Cape Henry Light, authorized by President George Washington in 1789, to the candy-striped Assateague Light on the state's Eastern Shore.

Of equal interest are teh tales of the men of the United States Life-Saving Serice, the forerunner of today's Coast Guard. Spaced along the shore, they aided navigation by responding selflessly to ships in distress, often at their own peril. Many of their quaint, beach cottage-style stations are lost, others preserved.

In Lighthouses and LIfesaving Stations of Virginia, author Patric Evans-Hylton has collected more than 200 archival images that capture the illuminating history of the silent sentinels of the sea and the valiant stories of heroic surfmen. The book richly chronicles the stories of lighthouses and life saving stations of the state, many of whch are but a memory now. Patrick, a local Tidewater resident, is an editor for Hampton Roads Magazine and an avid hitory enthusiast, as well as the author of Hampton Roads: The World War II Years, and several other books with Arcadia Publishing.

The images of America series celebrates the history of neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the country. Using archival photographs, each title presents the distinctive stories from teh past that shape the character of the community today. Arcadia is proud to play a part in teh preservation of local heritage, making history available to all.