The United States Senate on July 17 unanimously passed a resolution authored by Sens. Angus King (I-Maine), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that designates August 7, 2014 as “National Lighthouse and Lighthouse Preservation Day.”

Sens. King, Collins and Schumer introduced the legislation in advance of August 7, which marks the 225th anniversary of President George Washington’s signing of the Lighthouse Act of 1789. That legislation established the federal government’s role in supporting lighthouses, beacons, buoys and public piers.

“For centuries, lighthouses have guided mariners across America’s coastlines and helped them return safely to dry land,” Sens. King and Collins said in a joint statement. “It’s important that we recognize the tremendous role these iconic structures play in our maritime commerce and to preserve the legacy and history they embody. We are delighted that the Senate has declared this coming August 7 as National Lighthouse and Lighthouse Preservation Day.”