When the U.S. Treasury Department was created in the 1790's, responsibility for aids to navigation shifted from colonial and state governments to the national level. In 1852, the Light-House Board was created within the U.S. Treasury Department and 12 lighthouse districts were formed. Alaska was added later, in a 13th district including Oregon and Washington. In January 1869, the government began to reserve lands for navigational aids. George Davidson of the U.S. Coast Survey prepared a detailed report for Alaska recommending specific locations for lighthouses, buoys and unlighted beacons. However the report was ignored by Congress which had set aside no land in Alaska for that purpose. In 1900 Congress finally established light stations in Alaska; twelve stations were located along the coasts. All but 2 of the light stations remained functional until the 1960's and 1970's. [From "Aids to Navigation in Alaska History," Alaska Div. of Parks, Office of Statewide Cultural Programs, Nov. 1974, pp. 4-18.]