Federica Marchionni of Lands' End and Jeff Gales of the U.S. Lighthouse Society

Federica Marchionni of Lands' End and Jeff Gales of the U.S. Lighthouse Society

HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Lands' End Wants to See Old Lighthouse Restored in SF

More than 50 years ago, Lands' End was founded by former advertising executive Gary Comer, an avid sailor, to sell sailboat hardware and equipment by catalog.

The Wisconsin-based company has undergone many transformations over the years, including selling mostly clothing, shoes and other accessories now instead of sailing gear. But the company's roots have not been forgotten.

Over the years, the company has funded several lighthouse projects. Recently, it announced it is donating $25,000 to fund a study to preserve the historic Alcatraz Island Lighthouse off the coast of San Francisco.

The lighthouse, the first built on the West Coast, was constructed in 1854 but replaced with a concrete structure in 1909 due to earthquake damage in 1906.

Lands' End will fund a historic structures report conducted by the U.S. Lighthouse Society, the first step in saving the storied lighthouse. With the National Park Service and the U.S. Coast Guard, the report will assess the condition and required level of repair of the West Coast's oldest lighthouse.

Federica Marchionni, Lands' End's chief executive, said the company was excited to partner with the U.S. Lighthouse Society on this project. "Since the company was founded in 1963, the lighthouse has been a treasured icon symbolizing our brand's heritage. While our company has evolved over the past 50 years, our love of lighthouses and rich nautical history has stayed the course," she said.

Last year, Lands' End adopted the Block Island Southeast Lighthouse, a U.S. National Historic Landmark located on Block Island, Rhode Island. The donation restored the lantern room to house the original lens.