Ten lighthouses that have stood sentinel along America’s shores for generations, protecting sailors from danger and guiding them to safety, are being given away for free or sold at auction by the federal government because GPS makes them useless, reports say. Guardian.

The goal of the general services management program is to preserve the property, most of which is more than a century old.

Advances in modern technology, including GPS, have made lighthouses no longer necessary for navigation, said John Kelly of the General Services Administration’s property management office. And while the Coast Guard often maintains navigational aids at or near lighthouses, the structures themselves are often no longer critical.

Yet the public remains fascinated by the lighthouses, which are popular tourist attractions, favorite local landmarks and the subject of countless photographers and artists.