Bob Trapani, Jr.

“My appreciation for Maine’s lighthouses is directly underpinned by a love and fascination with the coast of Maine…The craggy coastline, the many islands crowned in green and the wild wave-swept ledges that make the Pine Tree State’s lighthouses, well — distinctly Maine.” -Bob Trapani, Jr.

Gleams and Whispers: Maine Lighthouses and Their Allure

Rockland Breakwater: A Journey Through the Seasons

“Bob Trapani’s latest book, Beacons of Wonderment, is a wonderment unto itself if you are among the many with a passion and reverence for America’s lighthouses. The author’s profound knowledge and experience, born of decades of front-line, in the field, hands-on work with many – particularly New England – lighthouses has given him a unique perspective that very few are privileged to gain. Combine that extraordinary knowledge-base with his ‘passion and reverence’ for the history and the very purpose of these iconic structures and all that they fundamentally represent and you have an intimate story which is further graced and illuminated by his extremely fine photography. Beacons of Wonderment is an absolute ‘must have!'” – Peter Ralston, Cofounder, Island Institute, Rockland

Bob Trapani’s ‘Beacons of Wonderment’ thoughtfully pairs his striking photography of Maine’s lighthouses with his earnest and meditative prose poetry making this collection a must have for lovers of lighthouses and poetry alike.” – Nick Korstad, President,American Lighthouse Foundation

“Bob Trapani’s passion for lighthouses combines with his extensive experience as a modern-day lighthouse keeper, to shine brightly in this beautifully-produced book celebrating Maine’s historic lighthouses” – Chris Mills, Former Canadian Coast Guard Lightkeeper

“Bob Trapani has a rare passion for the beauty and history of the lighthouses of Maine. He’s also blessed with a keen eye for capturing these treasures in his photos, in sun and storm and everything in between. And Bob’s prose that accompanies the images in this book shows a reverence for the romance that these special places embody, and a deep understanding of the ways they spark the imagination. Coffee table books about lighthouses are common, but nobody combines photography and prose to evoke emotions the way Bob does.” – Jeremy D’Entremont, Historian, United States Lighthouse Society

The Allure of Maine’s Lighthouses:

In this 50-minute illustrated program, author Bob Trapani gives the audience a glimpse into his unique and winding lighthouse journey that has inspired his writing and photography. Over the last two decades, Bob has combed Maine’s shorelines and lingered along its innumerable nooks and crannies. He has waded through thin waters, climbed over rockweed-covered ledges and admired mirrors of reflection that shimmered atop thin brine in tide pools. Intrigued by winter’s frigid countenance, Bob steeled himself against sub-zero temperatures when the air burns cold and stared straight into the face of galloping northeast gales. Each experience built upon the next as he delved into the deeper meaning and symbolism of Maine’s lighthouses. Such insights were collected at the crossroads of the heart, where history and philosophy forever intersect. “At lighthouses, I have come to learn that within the shadows, rocky crevices and random tide pools, nothing may be seen and yet everything is revealed” Trapani notes. “It all depends on your perspective!”