Lighthouses Being Auctioned Off By Coast Guard

In this day and time people auction off almost anything. Today I read an article in the USA Today about a man who had won an online auction for the Thimble Shoal Lighthouse near Fort Monroe, VA. It sold for $65,000.

It seems that the modern vessels have more advanced technology and have made the lighthouses obsolete. I know at one time lots of people were avid collectors of Harbour Lights and tried desperately to not only buy all the lighthouses but to visit all of them as well. I have been to several and have really loved seeing this piece of history but I never thought about buying one.

According to the article an amendment to the National Historic Preservation Act in 2000 made it possible for the Coast Guard to auction off the lighthouses if they could not find a state, city or non-profit organization willing to take over ownership and upkeep. Since that time the Coast Guard has been able to giveaway and auction 41 lighthouses and has plans for disposing of a dozen or so more this year.

As part of the amendment, lighthouses have to made available first to state and local governments or non-profit organizations for free. If no one is interested or willing to take them over for free, then the Coast Guard is free to auction them. One man in the article was quoted saying "It's kind of an interesting real estate dynamic, We can't give it away, so we sell it."

Whether you are in the market for a "real" lighthouse or a replica such as the ones made by Harbour Lights, it appears auctions are the place to look. If you are not in the market for the "real thing", we have replicas listed at http://www.insiderauctions.com/.

This is a picture of the Harbour Lights Middle Bay, Alabama lighthouse. It is a limited edition and is a beautiful replica of the real lighthouse.

I don't know about you, but I can't figure out why there is a bull on the deck or how it got there. If you know the answer will you please enlighten me.

The Harbour Lights Middle Bay Lighthouse is currently listed on Insider Auctions (http://www.insiderauctions.com/). To place a bid click on the following link. http://www.insiderauctions.com/auction_details.php?name=Middle-Bay-Alabama-Lighthouse&auction_id=2576

Tennessee Lady Vols Win It All

Tennessee Lady Volunteers just won their 8th National Championship!! Can't you just imagine how much more valuable all that collectible memorabilia is going to be. Rocky Top all the Way. It was an outstanding game and I hope everyone watched it. I wonder if Pat Summitt's assistanct coaches get new Mercedes again this year? What a way for this team to end the year!

New Department 56 Listings

Take a look at a few of the new Department 56 items that have just been listed on Insider Auctions.

Department 56 - Alpine Village Series
Leading the Bavarian Cow
Item #56.56214

Up for your consideration is this highly detailed piece that commemorates Bavarian Cow Herders, also known as senners, who place a bell around the neck of the lead cow to let the other cattle know who's in charge.
Size: 3.5 x 1.5 x 2.25" Collector Notes: Introduced December, 1999
Retired December, 2002

Visit Insider Auctions to place your bid on Leading the Bavarian Cow

Department 56
Dickens' Village Series
Queens Port Lighthouse
Item #56.58714

Up for your consideration is this highly detailed porcelain lighthouse.
For hundreds of years, the lighthouses on England's shorelines have come to symbolize a nostalgic ideal. Based on distinctive design and beautiful maritime settings, their romantic appeal in enhanced by heroic profiles of lonely, duty-bound lighthouse keepers who risked their lives to ensure the safety of sailors, ships and cargo. Comes complete with light cord Size: 7 x 5.5 x 9.75"
Collector Notes:
Introduced December, 2003
Retired December, 2004

To place a bid on the Queen's Port Lighthouse go to Insider Auctions.

New England Village

Old North Church

The Old North Church came into the Dickens Village collection in 1988 and was retired by Department 56 in 1998. It was inspired by the historic landmark in Boston Christ Church where sexton Robert Newman hung lanterns in its steeple to warn colonists in Charlestown that the British were on their way to Lexington and Concord.

The Old North Church was really something to look at...constructed in red brick, with white stained glass windows a large wooden door for the villages to enter through and a white bell tower and steeple. A beautiful green wreath has been hung with care to decorate for the Christmas season. The Church being offered is in new condition and comes with the box and sleeve along with the light cord.

To place a bid on the New England Old North Church go to Insider Auctions.


Be one of the few collectors who have this unique pin specifically designed with the Department 56 collector in mind. It is made of gold and rhinestone spelling out the words Dept 56. The pin is in new condition. To my knowledge these are no longer available.

To bid on this beautiful Dept 56 Pin go to Insider Auctions

There are lots more items listed. Best of all, if you have items to sell, basic listings are Free. Whether buying or selling, come check out the auction site that cares about buyers and sellers.