This is Angela Odell, and you are listening to Real Cool History for Kids, a podcast show featuring history told from a distinctly biblical worldview perspective. Welcome to an adventure.

Welcome to episode 144 of Real Cool History for Kids. This episode is for Emily Smith, who wanted me to tell you all the incredible story of

Ida Lewis, the lighthouse keeper.

I was so excited when I saw Emily's request for this story. Because the story of Ida Lewis's life is just,

it's absolutely fascinating, but it's not only fascinating, it's inspirational and absolutely

amazing. Ida had an interesting name and an interesting job. Her real name was Ida Wally,

Zarata, Lewis. I think I'm saying that right. We're just going to call her Ida because

that's what she went by in real life. In a time of history when women did not usually have jobs like being a lighthouse keeper,

Ida proved women were far more capable than people gave them credit for.

Before we begin our story, though, it's important for you to understand where Ida lived

and worked. So if you can, go grab your map of the United States

and find Rhode Island. It's a really small state out on the east coast. It's kind of tucked in the

corner between Connecticut and Massachusetts. Ida's lighthouse was on a tiny island in a bay where the Atlantic Ocean sends little

fingers of water into the state of Rhode Island.

So that's where she lived.

Let's begin Ida's story at the beginning.

Ida was born in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1842, and she was the oldest of four children.

So her parents had three other children after she was born.

Ida's father was Captain Josea Lewis, and he was a coast pilot.

This was before the United States had a coast guard.

So Ida's father was in the organization that is kind of considered the forerunner of the coast guard.

Ida's father was dealing with really poor health.

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