Lights of the Lakes

Program Overview: Lights of the Lakes is an original narrated slide show accompanied by music and sound effects. It consists of about 160 photographs, including attractive portraits of 50 different Great Lakes lighthouses. Other images include shipwrecks and historical subjects depicting iron and copper mining and lumbering activities in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The importance of these industries during this period necessitated the construction of many of the lights seen in the show, to help facilitate water transport of mineral and timber products to market.

The program concludes with a tribute to the Great Lakes ore carrier Edmund Fitzgerald. The speaker's photographic interpretation of this mysterious shipwreck produces a memorable conclusion to the program.

Program Format: Lights of the Lakes is an hour-long slide presentation featuring the lighthouse photography of Phillip L. Block, who narrates the program from a prepared script.

The Great Lakes lighthouses shown are situated on the shores and islands of Lakes Michigan and Superior. Recurring subordinate themes include lighthouse technology, both past and present, and shipwrecks that occurred when the technology failed.

Static displays consisting of posters and interesting table top items accompany the program, to entertain and inform the guests before and after the show.

Intended Audience: Lights of the Lakes is perfect for anyone interested in lighthouses, Great Lakes maritime history, shipwrecks, or even recreational boating and sailing. Over two thousand people have enjoyed the show to date.

Program Objectives

Celebrate the picturesque beauty of our remote great lakes lighthouses, which are captured in many different settings and in all seasons.
Educate the viewer as to why the lighthouses were originally built, and explain their historical significance to shipping on the Great Lakes.
Sensitize the viewer to conditions threatening the continued existence of our historic lighthouses.

Presenter's Background

Phil is a native of the Great Lakes area and an accomplished outdoor photographer and writer.

Born and raised in Michigan, Phil now resides in Port Washington, Wisconsin. He works as a web developer for a Milwaukee area computer consulting firm. He is a former U.S. Army officer and graduate of Michigan Technological University in the Upper Peninsula.

Phil is a member of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, which is dedicated to the preservation of the history of Great Lakes lighthouses and the people who kept them.

Testimonials

"Your dazzling, comprehensive presentation was informative and impressive to all those in attendance. Weaving in the maritime past from a sailor's perspective gave added impact to the outstanding visual stimulation. The script, transitions, and sound effects were impeccable."
– Sailing Club, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
"The show was superbly photographed and organized, and I could certainly tell that you put a lot of time and effort into it. All of the people in the audience obviously enjoyed it very much."
– Mead Public Library, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
"The slides you used were excellent and illustrated your lecture very well. The audience really enjoyed your presentation, judging from the reaction and response. Your materials on display, and the music, added a great deal to the presentation."
– The State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Madison
"Your presentation was super. It was without a doubt the finest program that our club has seen, and we all came away with substantial additional knowledge of the Great Lakes."
– Milwaukee Harbor Yacht Club
"Thank you for your fascinating program. We heard nothing but complimentary remarks about your beautiful slides and very educational information on lighthouses. A most enjoyable evening."
– Shorewood Historical Society
"This program was excellent and put together beautifully. Phil Block did a fantastic job."
– Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc

To Schedule a Presentation: Lights of the Lakes is frequently requested by maritime and historical organizations, yacht clubs, and similar groups of lighthouse enthusiasts.

To schedule a presentation for your group, please call Phillip L. Block at (262) 284-9600.

You may send me email at pblock@execpc.com.

Much of the photography may be previewed at my companion web site Lightstations.com.

Thank you for your interest in Great Lakes lighthouses and my Lights of the Lakes slide show.