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Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter: The Remarkable True Story Of American Heroine Ida Lewis
The amazing story of a heroic woman—the keeper of Lime Rock Lighthouse in Newport, Rhode Island.
160 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2010
30 people are currently reading
539 people want to read
About the author
Lenore Skomal
21 books64 followersLenore Skomal wants you to eat her books. She wants you to chew them in your teeth, savor them on your tongue, breathe them in, and feel her words in your skin. Her passionate desire is to touch your heart, inspire you, and luxuriate in the world of the written word. She finds ecstasy in constructing a perfect sentence and responds willingly to the nagging ache in her heart to create an authentic experience for the reader. Lenore is an award-winning author with the single goal of being heard.
Winner of multiple awards for blogging, literature, biography and humor, Lenore Skomal's catalogue spans many genres. With 30 years of writing experience, over 17 books published and a daily blog, the consistent themes in her work are the big issues the human experience and adding depth and voice to the intricacies involved in living a multi-dimensional existence. BLUFF was a Finalist in the International Book Awards Literary Fiction category 2013. Skomal has also won several Society of Professional Journalist Awards, Whidbey Island Writer's Conference honorable mention for best fiction, Writer's Digest 73rd Annual Fiction Contest, New York Public Library's Best Books for Teens 2003, and the Next Generation Indie Book Award for humor. From journalism, to literary fiction, to humor and biography, Skomal's writing is consistent, if not in genre, then in message.
As a member of the world community, Skomal is excited by the opportunities presented in today's publishing climate. Now, not only can she spend her time traveling internationally and experiencing cultural events like a Lakota Sweat Lodge, she shares these experiences directly with her readers in hopes of resonating with them and underscoring that no one is alone.
In addition to writing, Lenore is an engaging public speaker with over 1000 public engagements, book tours and writing seminars. She has taught college journalism, has one son, and when not off gallivanting from Egypt to Mongolia she resides with her husband in Erie, Pa.
To contact Lenore check out her Website at http://lenoreskomal.com/ or Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.net/pages/Lenore-...
Winner of multiple awards for blogging, literature, biography and humor, Lenore Skomal's catalogue spans many genres. With 30 years of writing experience, over 17 books published and a daily blog, the consistent themes in her work are the big issues the human experience and adding depth and voice to the intricacies involved in living a multi-dimensional existence. BLUFF was a Finalist in the International Book Awards Literary Fiction category 2013. Skomal has also won several Society of Professional Journalist Awards, Whidbey Island Writer's Conference honorable mention for best fiction, Writer's Digest 73rd Annual Fiction Contest, New York Public Library's Best Books for Teens 2003, and the Next Generation Indie Book Award for humor. From journalism, to literary fiction, to humor and biography, Skomal's writing is consistent, if not in genre, then in message.
As a member of the world community, Skomal is excited by the opportunities presented in today's publishing climate. Now, not only can she spend her time traveling internationally and experiencing cultural events like a Lakota Sweat Lodge, she shares these experiences directly with her readers in hopes of resonating with them and underscoring that no one is alone.
In addition to writing, Lenore is an engaging public speaker with over 1000 public engagements, book tours and writing seminars. She has taught college journalism, has one son, and when not off gallivanting from Egypt to Mongolia she resides with her husband in Erie, Pa.
To contact Lenore check out her Website at http://lenoreskomal.com/ or Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.net/pages/Lenore-...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
October 17, 2017
Ida Lewis became famous for her maritime rescues off the Rhode Island coast in the later half of the 19th century. The best thing about this book is that it is very short, less than 150 pages. Even at such brevity, it repeated the same details numerous times. It was filled with irrelevant information that appeared to have no purpose other than to pad the word count. Elements of the story were blatantly contradictory; one page we were told that Ida lived in obscurity and a few pages later we were told that she was so famous that people came from all over just to be able to shak`e her hand. We were told that Ida Lewis was unique only in her fame. Other female lighthouse keepers rescued more sailors, performed rescues at a more advanced age, kept far more lights burning simultaneously under more treacherous conditions. But we were never told why this particular woman was chosen for the subject of this book; we can only presume that it was because she was the easiest to research. My local book group picked this as our November title because the author is local. 1.5 stars.
August 21, 2017
Ida Lewis was a motherfucking badass. What an awesome lady.
December 28, 2016
I can't say enough positives about this book! Based on the true story of Ida Lewis, a teenage, Newport, RI girl who became the unofficial keeper of Lime Rock Lighthouse in Newport, RI after her father's health turn, this is a lively, engaging and informative read.
As Newport, RI is only an hour drive from me and my guy commutes there daily to work on the Navy Base, Newport itself holds some fascination. For most it's the land of wealthy tourists who flock there in Summers for shopping and eats or to tour the mansions that were once owned by the Vanderbilts and Astors. For me, it's always been just a neat historical city, too big for its britches. This is why it was so spectacular to discover Ida Lewis who lived at a transitional time for Newport, back in the day when there were probably still a few farms left there.
Ida Lewis must have had a hard existence. Her father became the keeper of the light when she was a teenager, but within a few months his health declined so badly, it fell to Ida's shoulders to race out to the waves in a row boat to collect those who ended up stranded or submerged in the Harbor. Her mother wasn't the most healthy of women either by the sounds, and her living siblings were all younger than her as well. Not only would she keep the light burning and people alive, she also had to row her siblings to school on the mainland and back each day and tend to the housework as well. She worked a lot harder as a teen in the late 1800s then most adults work now in the 2000s!
Ida did marry and moved to Bridgeport, CT which never felt like home to her. It's easy to relate to for me as I grew up on a dirt road in the Great North Woods of New Hampshire. Cities always feel like non-homes to me. While Ida never divorced her husband, she did return to Lime Rock Light without him and remained there until her death, as it should have been. The story of Ida is a story of the lighthouse and not anywhere else. She belonged there.
Skomal does a great job of showing how Newport itself basically exploited Ida Lewis to draw more tourists and business to the city. What was a naturally private person and family, suddenly saw hundreds of people arriving by boat on their doorstep every Summer day, all waiting for a glimpse of the woman who saved soldier's, socialites and even sheep's lives. You really get the sense of how burdened Ida felt in her later years by all the attention. To her she was just doing her job. Once the government officially made her the legal keeper of the light, as opposed to just someone filling in, even then there was the threat that the lighthouse would be discontinued. Fame doesn't come with automatic security and happiness and Ida exemplifies that all too well. In fact, if it hadn't have been from an out of pocket donation from Andrew Carnegie, Ida would have never even gotten a pension for her 40 years of hard work. Ida is the story of how "the other half" of Newport lived and it's a story well worth reading whether you're local or not.
As Newport, RI is only an hour drive from me and my guy commutes there daily to work on the Navy Base, Newport itself holds some fascination. For most it's the land of wealthy tourists who flock there in Summers for shopping and eats or to tour the mansions that were once owned by the Vanderbilts and Astors. For me, it's always been just a neat historical city, too big for its britches. This is why it was so spectacular to discover Ida Lewis who lived at a transitional time for Newport, back in the day when there were probably still a few farms left there.
Ida Lewis must have had a hard existence. Her father became the keeper of the light when she was a teenager, but within a few months his health declined so badly, it fell to Ida's shoulders to race out to the waves in a row boat to collect those who ended up stranded or submerged in the Harbor. Her mother wasn't the most healthy of women either by the sounds, and her living siblings were all younger than her as well. Not only would she keep the light burning and people alive, she also had to row her siblings to school on the mainland and back each day and tend to the housework as well. She worked a lot harder as a teen in the late 1800s then most adults work now in the 2000s!
Ida did marry and moved to Bridgeport, CT which never felt like home to her. It's easy to relate to for me as I grew up on a dirt road in the Great North Woods of New Hampshire. Cities always feel like non-homes to me. While Ida never divorced her husband, she did return to Lime Rock Light without him and remained there until her death, as it should have been. The story of Ida is a story of the lighthouse and not anywhere else. She belonged there.
Skomal does a great job of showing how Newport itself basically exploited Ida Lewis to draw more tourists and business to the city. What was a naturally private person and family, suddenly saw hundreds of people arriving by boat on their doorstep every Summer day, all waiting for a glimpse of the woman who saved soldier's, socialites and even sheep's lives. You really get the sense of how burdened Ida felt in her later years by all the attention. To her she was just doing her job. Once the government officially made her the legal keeper of the light, as opposed to just someone filling in, even then there was the threat that the lighthouse would be discontinued. Fame doesn't come with automatic security and happiness and Ida exemplifies that all too well. In fact, if it hadn't have been from an out of pocket donation from Andrew Carnegie, Ida would have never even gotten a pension for her 40 years of hard work. Ida is the story of how "the other half" of Newport lived and it's a story well worth reading whether you're local or not.
June 26, 2022
Very interesting nonfiction account of one of America's female lighthouse keepers. She was not 'officially' the appointed lighthouse keeper for many years, but as her father fell too ill to do the work quite soon after taking the job, she took it on and kept it running for many, many years prior to being recognized--and therefore PAID to do the work--which was due to her heroic efforts of saving people (generally drunken idiots) during the worst storms.
During her time, she made many influential friends (it certainly helped being based in Newport--summer playground of the rich and famous. Although, she generally just stayed on the island in order to maintain the lighthouse, people came to her after reading about her in the newspapers.
By the time she was appointed, she made a quite handsome salary, which was more than many men tending lighthouses. However, as her job was full-time with no days off, she could spend little of it.
She was often called the 'Grace Darling' of America. Grace was another female lighthouse keeper based in England, but who had saved fewer lives. For an historical fiction account of her life, see: The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter by Hazel Gaynor.
Some of the more interesting aspects of this book was the detailed information about how lighthouses used to operate.
During her time, she made many influential friends (it certainly helped being based in Newport--summer playground of the rich and famous. Although, she generally just stayed on the island in order to maintain the lighthouse, people came to her after reading about her in the newspapers.
By the time she was appointed, she made a quite handsome salary, which was more than many men tending lighthouses. However, as her job was full-time with no days off, she could spend little of it.
She was often called the 'Grace Darling' of America. Grace was another female lighthouse keeper based in England, but who had saved fewer lives. For an historical fiction account of her life, see: The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter by Hazel Gaynor.
Some of the more interesting aspects of this book was the detailed information about how lighthouses used to operate.
April 24, 2011
Enjoyable if you are into lighthouses or keeper-culture of New England. Quick read fluidly written w/ references for more in depth review on the subject. The author also penned the title Women Who Kept the Lights.
Recommended for a rainy-beachside day!
Recommended for a rainy-beachside day!
September 29, 2023
I always loved Lighthouses but never learned anything about them. I really enjoyed the history of this lighthouse and the woman who worked there.I never knew how hard it was especially back then when there was no electricity. I can’t wait to read more about other lighthouses !!
December 26, 2011
Imagine for a moment, rowing across stormy waves to rescue capsized mariners, at the age of 15. Add a Victorian dress to that image; a regular day-in-the-life of Ida Lewis. Lewis' father was assigned the duties of lighthouse keeper at the Lime Rock Lighthouse in Newport RI in 1853; soon after he suffered a stroke and the light keeping duties were assumed by his wife and children. Ida's rescues were quite newsworthy, partly due to the events of that era and partly due to her being a woman. She became a woman that people traveled many miles to meet, from families to the President of the United States. Tangible awards and gifts were granted her for these rescues but the award that she most coveted was mired in government protocol but with patience she received her recognition and became an icon for women during a time of great change. The author mixes in developments in technology and the lighthouse bureau that marked significant changes in Ida's life. A must read for those interested in women's studies, lighthouse keeping at the turn of the century, and heroes.
September 17, 2020
I liked this book and the information it gave about Ida Lewis. I wish a little more information could have been given about her life, especially her involvement in the suffrage movement, but the book did focus more on her life at the lighthouse and the fame she received after various rescues she made.
I must say, Ida is phenomenal and I am amazed by her strength and humility. An excellent read.
I must say, Ida is phenomenal and I am amazed by her strength and humility. An excellent read.
March 15, 2016
An interesting bio of Ida Lewis and her times as she rescued many people during her keeper days near Newport, RI. The book was well-researched and documented, and told in an interesting style. Ida received a large amount of publicity during her lifetime as well as several awards for her rescues but remained humble and of service to others. An interesting woman and an interesting time.
February 17, 2013
An inspirational story. And a good read!
September 22, 2013
I loved this book. It was so easy to fall in love with Ida and her heroic deeds.
November 22, 2015
An account of the American Heroine Ida Lewis and the amazing rescues while tending Lime Rock Lighthouse.
October 2, 2019
Excellent book. I love Lighthouses and I love history. This book contained both. It’s fascinating to read the stories of Lighthouses and their Keepers.
August 7, 2025
This is a historical fiction novel about Ida Lewis, who was one of many women who were lighthouse keepers: Hannah Thomas, Grace Darling, Harriet Colfax, Kate Moore, Abbie Burgess and many more.
Born in 1842, Ida was eleven when her father, Captain Hosea Lewis, accepted the appointment of lighthouse keeper at Lime Rock Lighthouse in Newport, Rhode Island located on the Narragansett Bay. She took great pleasure in accompanying him and was taught all the skills required as a lighthouse keeper including the oars and rudder of their rowboat and how to rescue drowning man which at an early age helped her for her future role.
At age fifteen, after her father was disabled by a stroke, Ida began tending the lighthouse, in which the lantern had to be maintained as well as keeping the light. After her father died in 1872, Ida’s mother assumed the role of lighthouse keeper to be able to receive his salary, but Ida continued to do the work. Then, when her mother died in 1879, Ida was officially appointed to the job, where she remained until her death at the age of 69 in 1911.
Not all of Ida's rescues were recorded due to lack of eyewitnesses and her own modesty. Ida is credited with saving at least eighteen lives during her nearly forty years on the tiny island in Newport Harbor. She became famous nationwide in the late 1860s after one of her rescues and the town of Newport celebrated her on Independence Day 1869. Ida was the first woman to be awarded the gold U.S. Life Saving Medal. In 1924, the Rhode Island legislature officially changed the name of Lime Rock Lighthouse to Ida Lewis Lighthouse but was deactivated in 1927, three years after its renaming. In 1928, all but a portion of Lime Rock used for the light tower was sold to yachtsmen who preserved the historic house and established the Ida Lewis Yacht Club.
Born in 1842, Ida was eleven when her father, Captain Hosea Lewis, accepted the appointment of lighthouse keeper at Lime Rock Lighthouse in Newport, Rhode Island located on the Narragansett Bay. She took great pleasure in accompanying him and was taught all the skills required as a lighthouse keeper including the oars and rudder of their rowboat and how to rescue drowning man which at an early age helped her for her future role.
At age fifteen, after her father was disabled by a stroke, Ida began tending the lighthouse, in which the lantern had to be maintained as well as keeping the light. After her father died in 1872, Ida’s mother assumed the role of lighthouse keeper to be able to receive his salary, but Ida continued to do the work. Then, when her mother died in 1879, Ida was officially appointed to the job, where she remained until her death at the age of 69 in 1911.
Not all of Ida's rescues were recorded due to lack of eyewitnesses and her own modesty. Ida is credited with saving at least eighteen lives during her nearly forty years on the tiny island in Newport Harbor. She became famous nationwide in the late 1860s after one of her rescues and the town of Newport celebrated her on Independence Day 1869. Ida was the first woman to be awarded the gold U.S. Life Saving Medal. In 1924, the Rhode Island legislature officially changed the name of Lime Rock Lighthouse to Ida Lewis Lighthouse but was deactivated in 1927, three years after its renaming. In 1928, all but a portion of Lime Rock used for the light tower was sold to yachtsmen who preserved the historic house and established the Ida Lewis Yacht Club.
September 4, 2022
I am genuinely surprised by how much I truly enjoyed this unassuming little book!
I absolutely love reading about history, especially when it's about little slices of history that I may have never known about otherwise. While this book may not have been the best writing I've ever read, I was completely captivated by the contents within. Ida was an absolutely inspiring woman, and I so loved learning her and her life's accomplishments. I was even engrossed by learning more about the times she lived in.
Much like Ida herself, don't be fooled by this book's small size--it is packed full of interesting history about a woman who absolutely deserves to be remembered throughout the ages!
I absolutely love reading about history, especially when it's about little slices of history that I may have never known about otherwise. While this book may not have been the best writing I've ever read, I was completely captivated by the contents within. Ida was an absolutely inspiring woman, and I so loved learning her and her life's accomplishments. I was even engrossed by learning more about the times she lived in.
Much like Ida herself, don't be fooled by this book's small size--it is packed full of interesting history about a woman who absolutely deserves to be remembered throughout the ages!
October 26, 2025
This excellent book gets four stars instead of five only because I wanted to learn more about the people themselves - Ida and her family members, particularly the roles played by her brothers regarding lighthouse duties. I understand the author had little to work with in terms of family documentation and family primary sources. That definitely would hinder research. The book is otherwise well-written and very informative about lighthouse politics, social conditions and newspaper coverage of Ida and her life. My personal interest is always in the day-to-day lives of people, so that factors into my review. I definitely recommend this book if you're interested in women lighthouse keepers.
November 6, 2025
It should've been better with such an interesting true story. The actual event (saving survivors of a shipwreck) was not nearly dramatic or exciting enough, especially since it served as the basis of the entire book. It wasn't really clear why she became so famous. The love stories were too pat, too predictable, as was the connection between the old and new storylines.
July 6, 2020
When I read the historical fiction book "The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter" by Hazel Gaynor this book was listed as one of her resources that she used when writing the book. I was not disappointed. I enjoyed learning more about Ida Lewis and the remarkable person she was.
April 12, 2023
A great history book on Ida Lewis and life as a lighthouse keeper. Each chapter had a quote, a brief history lesson, and then a story format of Ida’s life. What a remarkable woman - a great book to read.
May 3, 2023
This book was well written and it really turned into a Page Turner, because Ida Lewis was simply amazing. It's an understatement when I say she was truly an extremely kind, brave, and caring person. It was amazing to learn about Ida, but also fascinating to learn a little more about Newport RI.
July 2, 2025
Learning about Ida Lewis and her time was interesting but this book could have used some more editing. Some things were repeated multiple times and the timeline bounced around in the first half of the book.
June 7, 2018
Really interesting story of the heroism of Ida Lewis, and the price of fame in the 19th century. A snapshot of the often changing times.
February 23, 2021
I let too much time lapse between reading the historical fiction book (The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter) and reading this non fiction book.
November 25, 2021
Truly amazing woman that was a quiet hero who took over the tending of her father’s lighthouse. This book is the true story, not fictionalized
May 7, 2022
3.5* rounded up
November 26, 2023
I loved this book! I appreciated the mentions of other female keepers and the historical context of Newport and US lighthouses. A great companion piece to the Gilded Age show on Max right now.
May 10, 2024
Excellent book full of information about light keeper Ida Lewis as well as other women light keepers and what they were up against. I am very proud of them and their place in history.
October 26, 2024
Fascinating history. So grateful someone took the time to tell her story. A quick read.
October 31, 2019
Excellent historical fiction--loved the generational family stories (1838-1938) and the characters! Excellent writing.
May 4, 2020
This was a very interesting book about a real lighthouse keeper in Newport, Rhode Island in the 1800's. There were times when the book felt redundant, and times when it felt like it went off on a tangent unrelated to Ida Lewis, but overall, still interesting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews