Lanterns can enhance or create a mood for your home, your patio, or your backyard. Whether you want a friendly flame dancing on summer’s night air or you want to portray a spooky haunt, the use of lanterns can get you there.

History of the Lantern

The first lanterns were nothing more than candles carried in a simple box. The ancient Chinese were said to have caught fireflies and placed them in opaque containers, carrying them around as makeshift lanterns until their light extinguished.

Early lanterns were considered plain. Used only to get around in the dark, there was not much that was glamorous about the lantern. They provided assistance getting to the barn or over to the outhouse, but were largely unappreciated.

In the cities, lights from homes would provide illumination on the street. Whale oil was used as the first fuel for lanterns.

In the 1700’s, Boston became the first American city to use lanterns as street lights. These lamps were tended by night watchmen, and before long, some cities had laws requiring every sixth house to provide illumination to the street.

Philadelphia became illuminated by lanterns by 1751 with much help from Benjamin Franklin. He developed many advanced for the lantern, making them more efficient and more useful.

By the 1800’s, cities around the world were ablaze in lamplight. London switched to gas lamps in 1807, and Paris followed suit in 1818.

One legend has it that a pierced lantern had been used to signal Paul Revere of the British invasion, from the belfry of the Old North Church. Whether the legend is true or not, the lantern still bears his name.

Dating back to 1800’s England, Queen Victoria presented one of the greatest displays of lanterns when she unveiled the statue of Prince Albert. The streets of Queen Square were ablaze with flickering light, much to the enjoyment of the townspeople.

In more recent years, the flickering lights lining the streets of New Orleans have given us yet another image of lanterns. Somehow these normally cheerful devices became shrouded in mystery and bore omens of ghosts.

There are two main types of lanterns: gas and electric. Electric lanterns use a standard light bulb, although there are some that connect to a "flickering" bulb that emulates a real flame.

Gas lanterns have the more genuine look, with a natural gas line feeding the flames. You may choose to install a whole row of lanterns, evoking thoughts of an English manor, or carefully place just one or two around your house for visual décor interest.

Lanterns and the Railroad

Perhaps one of the most sought collector’s items from the railroad is the Conductor’s Lanterns. These tended to be fancier than other lanterns used on the railroad, perhaps signifying the conductor’s position of importance as the highest in authority on passenger trains.

There appears to have been an evolution of various types of lanterns from the railroad, the earliest dating back to the days before the Civil War. Even though the transcontinental railroad was not finished until 1869, there had been substantial railroad growth elsewhere in the nation prior to that.

Lanterns maintained their usefulness with the railroad until the 1970’s, but since have faded from use.

The Many Faces of Lanterns

Lanterns come in every design imaginable: Craftsman, Victorian, Cape Cod, Mission. You name it, and you can find a lantern that will match. Copper, brasses, pewter, alabaster, black and white are just some of the finishes you can find.

Dress up the exterior of your house, provide some added nighttime security, or transform your home into a French Quarter mansion. The tone and complexion of your lighting scheme depends only upon your imagination.

Plant a row of post lanterns along the front walk. Place a hanging lantern above the front door. Or install wall-mounted lanterns over the garage door, conjuring images of an old carriage house.

Buy cheerful paper lanterns to decorate a patio or deck for a party. The bright colors enhance the sense of celebration in addition to adding light.

Cruise ships use the large globe lanterns to illuminate the decks at night. If you have ever been at sea, just seeing one of those large white balls aglow will instantly transport you back there.

Lanterns can add a feeling of warmth and hospitality to your home, inside and out. Make small lanterns and float them in a pool for your next garden party or wedding reception.

Finally, who could forget the face of the Jack O’ Lantern peering out from your porch just after fall arrives? Sometimes funny, sometimes frightening, this lantern has been associated with Halloween since 1866. Despite folklore linking the Jack O’ Lantern to Britain or Ireland, there is no mention of the tradition before it appeared here in the United States.

The British and Irish did have a long tradition of carving vegetables into lanterns, but not in association with Halloween.

There are many tales about Jack and how his tortured face came to rest on so many pumpkins each year. What is certain, though, is he is the one lantern sure to be recognized by nearly everyone – especially your children.