Bolivar Lighthouse
The Bolivar Point Lighthouse, constructed in 1872, stands proudly at 117 feet above sea level. For 61 years, it guided mariners through the treacherous Gulf waters into Galveston Bay, until it was replaced by the South Jetty light in 1933. This historic structure, built from brick and sheathed in riveted cast iron plates, originally gleamed with white and black bands but has since weathered to a striking rusted black. Despite its age, the lighthouse has endured devastating storms, including the infamous hurricanes of 1900 and 1915, providing refuge to dozens of people during these disasters.
Powered by a 52,000 candle-power kerosene beacon, the lighthouse ensured safe passage through Galveston’s undredged waters. Its complex inner workings included a lamp that produced eight rays of light every 15 seconds, with the entire mechanism rotating through the night. Although now privately owned and no longer open to visitors, the lighthouse remains an enduring symbol of maritime history on the Texas Gulf Coast.
The Bolivar Point Lighthouse is not just a historical landmark—it’s a testament to resilience and human endurance. It sheltered over 60 people during the devastating 1915 hurricane, with survivors huddling on its iron steps as they watched their homes and crops swept away. Even when the storm rendered its machinery inoperable, the keeper turned the light by hand, ensuring that ships remained guided through the treacherous waters.
The lighthouse officially retired in 1933, with its mechanisms removed and the lamps and reflector lenses now on display at the Galveston County Museum. Sold as surplus government property in 1947, it became privately owned by Pat E. Boyt in 1952. The lighthouse even made its mark in popular culture, appearing in the 1968 film My Sweet Charlie. While the years have turned its once pristine exterior into a weathered monument, the lighthouse still stands proudly near Highway 87, evoking a sense of romance, adventure, and history from long ago.
A comprehensive restoration, led by the Bolivar Point Lighthouse Foundation, is currently underway. Unfortunately, visitors will not be able to fully enjoy the lighthouse for several more years, you can always marvel at the site from afar.
More information can be found at the link below.
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