Why do we love lighthouses? We asked passengers on a recent sunset cruise to Boston Light, sponsored by Save the Harbor/Save the Bay.

Lighthouses are beacons of light. They always mean safe passage.

Patricia Abbate, Hull

For me, it is a spiritual connection. A lighthouse is a symbol of hope.

Sally Snowman. Weymouth, Keeper of Boston Light

for 13 years

Lighthouses are really cool because of how tall they are and most of them are really pretty.

Grete Schuler, 9, Dorchester

Lighthouses have saved thousands of people. Now it’s time for people to save lighthouses.

Pat Heffernan, Nashua, ?Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses volunteer

A lighthouse is one of the few things in this world put out there to help people. And that’s its sole purpose — to make sure people are safe.

Peter Davidoff, Weston

Sailing home from the Cape, when you see Boston Light, that means you’re home.

Walter Hope, Charlestown, president, Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands

When I started sailing, it was before the days of GPS. You’d see Minot Light (below) and then you’d see Boston Light and that was your guidance to get into Boston Harbor.

Lenny Alberts, Boston