During the war between the States, the lighthouse was deactivated and the lens removed. The war caused the lighthouse to experience considerable damage to the tower, lantern room, and clock mechanism.
In 1866 the light was reactivated, and then in 1881 a new lantern room was installed. The lighthouse was closed In 1888, however, due to pressure from the locals it was reopened in 1895. Several years later it fell into disrepair.
In 1952 the lighthouse was acquired by the State of TX and restored. It sits on a grassy knoll adjacent to the small TX park named after the lighthouse. I visited this lighthouse in 1998 but was unable to take a picture, so I purchased the picture shown above. The view from the top of this lighthouse enables visitors to see the flat coastal plain as well as a good view of South Padre Island. At the time of my visit here, this was the only lighthouse open for climbing in the state of TX.
2 comments:
An attractive photograph. I have visited the site myself. The moonlit setting makes it seem more romantic.
Thanks, Richard. I appreciate your comments. A personal visit to these lighthouses enables one to have a better appreciation for their beauty and history.
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