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Who was Ida Lewis? A woman who broke many 19th century employment taboos and in so doing so, made a lasting contribution to the American Coast Guard. Read on to discover her remarkable story.

• Ida Lewis was born in Newport Rhode Island, February 25, 1842.
• She served unofficially as Lime Rock Lighthouse keeper from 1857 to 1878
• The U.S. Lighthouse Service officially appointed Ida keeper in 1879.
• Ida was officially credited with saving 18 lives during her 39 years at Lime Rock though it is believed the actual count is quite a bit higher.
• Ida Lewis died of a stroke while on duty, October 24, 1911.
• Lime Rock and Lime Rock Lighthouse were officially renamed Ida Lewis Rock and Ida Lewis Lighthouse in 1924.

This is what the U.S. Coast Guard has to say about Ida Lewis:

“Ida Lewis is one of the most famous personages to have ever served in the Coast Guard or in this case, the U.S. Lighthouse Service, one of the Coast Guard’s predecessors. She gained national notoriety during a time when most women in the United States were not in the professional workforce nor on the national stage. She overcame the biases of the time, through skill and professional ability, to become the official keeper of Lime Rock Light Station, a position she held until her death.”