Interview With Linda Dianto, Executive Director of the National Lighthouse Museum

1. Tell us about the vision that established the National Lighthouse Museum and its mission.

The United States has the most lighthouses of any country in the world, with the majority located along the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Coast. With the largest navy in the world, the U.S. has built over 1,500 lighthouses throughout its history, though only around 700 are currently standing. Because most lighthouses were decommissioned due to a combination of technological advancements, including GPS and automated systems, making them less necessary especially in light of the fact that the significant costs associated with maintaining human-staffed facilities made them economically unsustainable.

In 1939, the U.S. Lighthouse Service was absorbed into the U.S. Coast Guard, which initiated a process of automation and modernization. The National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act (NHLPA) of 2000 allowed for the disposal of excess federal lighthouses, often through public auctions to non-profit organizations or private buyers, leading to their conversion into residences or unique businesses such as the Saugerties Lighthouse on the Hudson River which functions as a bed and breakfast.

Many lighthouses now are being renovated such as the Hudson/Athens Lighthouse in Hudson, NY and operate as historic sites, museums, or are auctioned for private ownership such as the West Bank Lighthouse of Staten Island.

The National Lighthouse Museum (NLM) was established with the vision to preserve the history and significance of America's lighthouses, which were crucial for maritime safety and commerce. This vision began to take concrete shape in the late 1980s and 1990s through the efforts of lighthouse preservation groups, culminating in the selection of Staten Island as the museum's home. 

As the museum's executive director, I was instrumental in overcoming obstacles to its opening and realization. The other organizations and people  involved in the establishment of the museum which opened its doors to the public coinciding with August 7, the anniversary of a 1789 Congressional act to commission lighthouses included:

Lighthouse Preservation Society (LPS): Founded in 1982, this organization's concern for the fate of lighthouses fueled early efforts towards preservation and the idea of a national museum. 

Ross Holland: An early advocate and author, Holland shared his dream for a national museum in the forward of his classic book, America's Lighthouses. 

Staten Island Steering Committee: This group played a crucial role in selecting the site and bringing the museum to fruition. 

The Museum now stands in the former U.S. Lighthouse Service General Depot, a site pivotal to lighthouse operations nationwide, which acted as a central hub for lighthouse technology and operations from 1864 to 1939, impacting lighthouses across the entire country, underscoring their national importance throughout American history. The NLM’s mission highlights the critical role lighthouses played in the development of the nation by ensuring safe passage for ships and contributing to the growth of maritime industries, vital for trade and the economy, playing a significant role in preserving and sharing the history of lighthouses in the U.S.

The Museum collects, preserves, and interprets objects related to lighthouse history and technology. It serves as a center for research, education, and public information on American lighthouses. And fosters an appreciation for America's maritime heritage and the lives of lighthouse keepers.

2. Tell us about your educational and professional background that led you to heading the National Lighthouse Museum.

I received my  bachelor’s and master’s degrees in liberal arts & education from the College of Staten Island and a 6th Year Certificate in the Administration of Recreation & Leisure Services as well as a Certificate in Philanthropy and Fundraising both from the New York University.   

Starting at an early age as a volunteer, summer and after school jobs I developed a strong interest in education. This naturally led to program development, fundraising for these programs when I became a grade school teacher. I was directing summer camp recreation programs, while teaching third and fourth grades during the school year, in addition to being an adjunct professor teaching management skills gained along my career path. The majority of my career, 30 years, was spent as Administrator of several major health care facilities managing Therapeutic Recreation Programs to meet the needs of over 2,000 residents. 

My community involvement was always a part of my life and after work I would head off to the many organizations I felt a need to lend my support and advocacy efforts:  the Metropolitan NY Recreation & Parks Society; NYS Therapeutic Recreation Association; Soroptimist International of Manhattan; College of Staten Island Alumni Association; Staten Island Not For Profit Association; Grasmere Civic Association; Grasmere & Cameron Lakes Blue Belt Conservancy etc.  

As part of my community involvement, I joined the National Lighthouse museum’s board in 2010, 15 years ago when the Museum Board was in the process of disbanding. NLM is my labor of love which I took on for a variety of reasons, but the key motivating factor was the thought of losing a “National” museum for my community. 

Throughout my extensive career, I’ve been recognized for many of my achievements, but my most memorable recognition and a key highlight in my life was receiving the Staten Island Advance Woman of Achievement/ Class of 2017 award! I’ve loved every minute of both my work history and my volunteer commitments and have no regrets as I continue my extensive role in achieving the full success of the NLM, using all my transferrable skills, something everyone should understand and appreciate in furthering ones’ career goals.

3. Tell us about the National Lighthouse Museum's exhibits and events addressing the UN’s international Year of Glacier’s Preservation.

During the UN’s International Year of Glacier’s Preservation, NLM  held a 3.5 month long exhibition titled “the Melting Age” with award winning photographer and film maker Alfons Rodriguez and oil painter Fatma Kadir which was a UN Glaciers Day¹ as well as Climate Week NY event².

On the inaugural World Glacier Day on March 21st the Museum in collaboration with HMVC Gallery, held a 24 hour Times Square Jumbotron Art Show.

During the Melting Age exhibition, at the NLM we also held an event  focused on how the sculptured landscapes of Staten Island were shaped by glaciers³. And featured a documentary titled Antarctic Voyage⁴.    

To coincide with the City of Water Day celebrations⁵ NLM held another glacier themed exhibition titled Orcas & Glaciers by Selva Ozelli for two months that was a UN Glaciers Day⁶, Africa Climate Week and Climate Week New York events⁷.

4. Life-Saving Lighthouse Keepers Saved Birds Lives from Extinction in the US⁸. Tell us about the NLM's event planned for the World Migratory Bird Day with a theme of "Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities" that is celebrated bi-annually on May 10th and October 11th this year.

Boston Light, located on a lighthouse in Boston Harbor, is the only lighthouse in the U.S. that still has a human keeper. With that in mind and to honor the life-saving station keepers who saved birds lives from extinction in the US, the Museum will show a digital art show by artists Semine Hazar, Fatma Kadir, Selva Ozelli and Ilhan Sayin titled Stories of City Birds which were Africa Climate Week, and Climate Week New York events⁹.

5. Tell us about the NLM's Art Boat Tours.

Every year we hold boat tours. This year parallel to the ongoing “NY’s Lighthouses” art show we are running two “art boat” tours on September 7th to see lighthouses of Staten Island and on October 19th to see the Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse¹⁰.

6. On 4th of July, 2026 the United States will celebrate the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States Semi quincentennial. As well as the 140th anniversary of the dedication of the Statue of Liberty. Tell us about NLM's planned events around these celebrations 

The America 250 initiative which the NLM is part of, encourages history organizations to participate in the anniversary, to the celebrate the nation's past and future. The Museum will be a 4th of July celebration spot to watch the tall ships enter the New York Harbor. Accordingly, the Museum has planned several art shows starting in September of 2025 with the NY’s Lighthouses art show to celebrate this important milestone for our nation.

The first art show in this series is by award winning artists Semine Hazar, and Barbara Todd who will exhibit for the first time together to bring their art show “New York’s Lighthouses” to the National Lighthouse Museum from September 6th to December 13th, 2025, to present Lighthouses of NY based on their unique but complimentary artistic styles and interpretations.  

We will have an opening event for this art show on October 3rd from 5 – 7pm attended by the award winning artists.

This art show celebrates Lighthouses of New York which are recognized landmarks with symbolic and aesthetic qualities including distinct architectural characteristics located in picturesque settings. Many of these lighthouses are now lovingly preserved and open to the public, evoking feelings of hope, guidance, resilience, and revival. Their depiction in Semine’s paintings and Barbara’s photography captures New York’s coastal landscapes and maritime history as once these lighthouses played a crucial role in the region's maritime history, guiding ships and enabling trade and transportation. The exhibition highlights important aspects of the region's past, and its adaptation to technological advances with a strong connection to the Hudson River School, America's first art movement, which celebrated the beauty of New York and its surrounding landscapes that are an integral part of ongoing preservation efforts the National Lighthouse Museum is actively involved in. The art show is also an event as follows:

Climate Week Africa held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from September 1 - 10, was co-hosted by the Government of Ethiopia and the African Union, aiming to accelerate climate action across the continent. "NY's Lighthouses" art show was featured at UN's Africa Climate Week, with the Museum being an official visiting site in New York.

UN Clean Air for Blue Skies is celebrated on September 7, 2025. The NLM held a "Circumnavigation of Staten Island" art boat tour on September 7, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This tour, a signature event during the Museum's Lighthouse Weekend, explored various maritime sites around Staten Island. The event was sold out. Participants were able to view the "NY's Lighthouses" exhibition on United Nations Clean Air for Blue Skies day.

Climate Week New York City (CWNY) takes place September 21-28. The "NY's Lighthouses" exhibition is an CWNY event and the Museum is an official visiting site¹¹.

UNGA Healing Arts Week takes place September 20 -26 in NYC. The "NY's Lighthouses" exhibition is an UNGA Healing Arts Week event and the Museum is an official visiting site¹².   
 
HMVC Gallery’s Creativity Unbound exhibition at a Times Square Jumbotron The Museum is once again collaborating with HMVC Gallery to hold a 24 hour Times Square Jumbotron art show during September.

Next year we have two other USA 250 themed art shows planned until the end of October followed by “Paradise”¹³. The second exhibition is titled “Flag CCL”¹⁴ and the third is titled “Statue of Liberty”.

7. Anything else you would like to add.

I would like to point out that the Sandy Hook Light in New Jersey is the country's oldest standing tower, built in 1764.  While Michigan has the most lighthouses of any state, with over 120 connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.  

There is so much to know about these US lighthouses and lighthouses around the world¹⁵. For example, the world's tallest lighthouse is the Jeddah Light, a 436-foot (133-meter) concrete and steel tower located at the entrance to the Jeddah Islamic Seaport in Saudi Arabia. Completed in 1990, it primarily serves as a port control tower for monitoring maritime traffic in the Red Sea.  

I really would like to expand the National Lighthouse Museum which requires funding, so that it becomes the world’s largest lighthouse museum, representing lighthouses from all over the world. A museum fitting of a country with the most lighthouses in the world.

8. How can people get in touch with you.

Ldianto@lighthousemuseum.org
info@lighthousemuseum.org

1. https://www.un-glaciers.org/en/partners-content/melting-age-alfons-rodriguez-fatma-kadir-national-lighthouse-museum
2. https://www.climateweeknyc.org/events/melting-age-art-show
3. https://lighthousemuseum.org/event/sculptured-landscapes-shaped-by-glaciers-presentation/
4. https://lighthousemuseum.org/event/antarctic-voyage-documentary-screening/
5. https://www.cityofwaterday.org/#:~:text=City%20of%20Water%20Day%202025%20is%20on%20Saturday%2C%20July%2012,-City%20of%20Water&text=Now%20in%20its%2018th%20year,York%20and%20New%20Jersey%20harbor 
6. https://www.un-glaciers.org/ru/partners-content/orcas-glaciers-selva-ozelli
7. https://www.climateweeknyc.org/events/orcas-glaciers-selva-ozelli-cwny
8. https://www.lighthousedigest.com/Digest/StoryPage.cfm?StoryKey=2856.
9. https://www.climateweeknyc.org/events/stories-city-birds-art-show-semine-hazar-fatma-kadir-selva-ozelli-ilhan-sayin#:~:text=Africa%20is%20a%20vital%20destination,from%20her%20Bird%20Watching%20series.
10. https://lighthousemuseum.org/boat-tours/boat-tour-calendar/
11. https://www.climateweeknyc.org/events/new-yorks-lighthouses
12. https://www.healingartsnewyork.org/events/lighthouses-of-new-york
13. https://www.climateweeknyc.org/events/paradise-ian-hutton-selva-ozelli
14. https://www.climateweeknyc.org/events/flag-ccl-selva-ozelli-climate-heritage-network-event
15. https://www.un-glaciers.org/ru/partners-content/lighthouse-end-world-semine-hazar