U.S. government giving away 4 lighthouses for free; so what's the catch? By FOX 5 NY Staff and AP Staff Published Beavertail Lighthouse in Jamestown, R.I. (Handout photo by Jeremy D'Entremont via GSA) NEW YORK - The federal government is making available — for free — some waterfront properties with a lot of maritime history and amazing views to match. But there's a catch (there always is). The U.S. Coast Guard has decided it no longer needs four of the nation's most picturesque lighthouses. And now the General Services Administration is inviting federal, state, and local agencies; nonprofit organizations; educational and community development agencies; or groups devoted to parks, recreation, culture, or historic preservation to apply to take over the historic lighthouses and their outbuildings available free of charge. Anyone that intends to snatch up these lighthouses will be required to maintain them in line with various federal and local requirements, which is costly.