We used to spend time at South Padre Island a few years ago. The beaches there are clean and inviting, though the six-to-seven-hour drive from Austin can wear you down by the time you arrive.
Anyone making that drive will not miss a beautiful landmark just before the bridge to the island: the Port Isabel Lighthouse. Congress set aside money for it in 1850, and construction began in 1852. When it was finished, it stood 82 feet (25 m) tall, built of brick, and was first lit with a bank of 15 lamps and reflectors. In 1857, those were replaced with a proper third-order Fresnel lens, the kind of glassware that could throw a beam far out over the Gulf.
The lighthouse has seen more history than its quiet white tower lets on. During the Civil War, it served as a lookout post for soldiers from both sides. It went dark again in 1888 when a dispute over who actually owned the land forced the government to fight for the title, and it took until 1895 for the light to come back on. That second life lasted only ten years. In 1905, the light was extinguished for good, and the tower sat dark and unused for decades.
A local buyer purchased it in 1927, and it might have stayed a private curiosity if not for Mr. and Mrs. Lon C. Hill Jr., who gave the lighthouse and its land to the Texas State Park Board in 1950. After a year of restoration, it opened to the public in 1952. It earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places on April 30, 1976, and a new visitors center followed in 1996. Of the original sixteen lighthouses built along the Texas coast, it is the only one still open to the public today.
Climbing it means 75 spiral steps and three short ladders to a platform about 50 feet (15 m) above the ground, with the Queen Isabella Causeway, South Padre Island, and its beaches spread out below. These two photos were taken in two consecutive years (2002 and 2003) we visited the island. The first is a sunset climb, with kids racing down the steps and families settled into the grass at the base while the sky turned every shade of orange. The second, a year later, is a calmer midday visit under a bright blue sky, just one figure resting near the top. Same tower, same view, but the light and the crowd made each visit feel entirely different.
One more thing worth knowing: for nearly 120 years after 1905, the lantern room stood empty. That changed in 2022, when a replica of the original third-order Fresnel lens was installed, and the lighthouse was relit in a small ceremony. It no longer guides ships, but it glows again each evening anyway, less a working aid to navigation now than a reminder of what it once was.
These images were captured in 2002 and 2003. That is the story behind the shots. If you liked this post, you may also be interested in others featuring Landscapes, Lighthouse, One Step, Port Isabel, Queen Isabella Causeway, South Padre Island, Texas. Until the next time, keep clicking and capturing the beauty your eyes find.
Posted for Pepper’s One Step at a Time #20.
Sources:
- Wikipedia, “Point Isabel Light” — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Isabel_Light
- Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Site, History — http://portisabellighthouse.com/lighthouse/about/
- Texas Time Travel, Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Site — https://texastimetravel.com/directory/port-isabel-lighthouse-state-historic-site/
- AAA, Port Isabel Lighthouse — https://www.aaa.com/travelinfo/texas/port-isabel/attractions/port-isabel-lighthouse-502622.html
- Port Isabel-South Padre Press, “Spectators to witness first lighting in 117 years” (Dec. 1, 2022) — https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2022/12/01/illuminating/
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Tranature - quiet moments in nature
Fabulous images Egidio and what a stunning lighthouse! 😊
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for your positive feedback, Xenia. I appreciate that.
Steve Schwartzman
You provided lots of good historical information here. The soft pink of the clouds and the lighthouse in the opening view makes that picture a winner.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks a million, Steve. I like that first image, too. It’s a beautiful lighthouse.
Pepper
I’ve been to this lighthouse! The last time I visited South Padre Island was probably 40 years ago. Thanks for the reminder through your beautiful shots of the lighthouse and pier and bridge.
Egidio Leitao
Pepper, as I mentioned in the post, those are old photos. However, we went to SPI this year and noticed how different it is – a whole lot more developed. Thanks for the note.
shoestringdiary
Stunning sunset shot of the lighthouse. 😍
Egidio Leitao
Thank you! Glad you liked that one.
Teresa
That first photo is simply gorgeous Egidio.
Egidio Leitao
I’m happy you liked it, Teresa. Thanks a million.
pamperrault21
Thank you for sharing this with us. I thoroughly enjoyed reading its history and your pictures are lovely. You know, except in pictures, I’ve never seen a lighthouse. They always seem to have a bit of a mysterious and romantic aura about them. Great post! pp
pamperrault21
Thank you so much. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the history of the lighthouse, thank you. You know, except in pictures, I’ve never seen a lighthouse. They always seem a bit romantic to me. Great post, thank you. pp
Egidio Leitao
Besides the one featured here, I think I’ve visited two others: one in my hometown of Fortaleza, Brazil, and the other in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Thanks for writing.
pamperrault21
Hey Egidio, sorry about the double post, the first one disappeared on me. I’m clearly a computer dunce! pp
Anne Sandler
Great images and narrative, Egidio!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, as always, for your supportive words and feedback.