St. George Reef Lighthouse

Situated at the end of a reef six miles offshore of Crescent City, California, stands St. George Reef Lighthouse. Constructed after the wreck of the coastal steamer Brother Jonathan in 1865, the beacon warned mariners of the dreaded "Dragon Rocks" of St. George Reef for nearly a century. This book chronicles the loss of the Jonathan, decades of efforts to make the light a reality, the 10-year construction period, manning of the station by keepers of the US Lighthouse Service and Coast Guard, and the struggles and accomplishments of dedicated volunteers to restore what many lighthouse historians refer to as "America's greatest lighthouse."

Guy Towers and his wife, Alice, founded the St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society in 1986, and Guy has been president of the nonprofit group since. He has compiled extensive historical records that include material from the National Archives and personal interviews with keepers. He coordinates and oversees restoration activities of volunteers, who were first able to access the site by helicopter in 1996. Guy also acts as a docent for visitors whose paid tours are the group's chief source of revenue.