Texas Lighthouses

Texas is the second-largest U.S. state (after Alaska), but its long and relatively featureless coast on the Gulf of Mexico has never required very many lighthouses. And unfortunately, the number of historic Texas lighthouses has fallen from 7 to 5 since 2000. In May 2000 the Galveston Jetty Light collapsed into the Gulf during a severe thunderstorm, and in early 2002 the Coast Guard demolished the Sabine Bank Light. Of the five remaining historic lights, only two, Matagorda and Lydia Ann, are active, both under private maintenance.

There is no state preservation society, but two impressive restoration projects have been completed at the Port Isabel and Matagorda Island towers.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume J of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. USCG numbers are from Volume IV of the U.S. Coast Guard Light List.

General Sources

Texas Lighthouses

Historical accounts and photos posted by the Texas State Historical Association.

Texas Lighthouses

Fine photos and accounts for the 7 historic light stations, by Kraig Anderson.

Online List of Lights - United States

Photos posted by Alexander Trabas. Most of these photos were taken by Capt. Peter Mosselberger, better known as Capt. Peter.

Gulf Coast Lighthouses

Posted by Lowell Thomas, this site has pages with information on nearly all of the Texas lighthouses.

The Lighthouse People - Texas

Photos from visits by Bob and Sandra Shanklin.

Texas Lights

Photos and accounts by Zachary Yarnes; this site includes the inland lights.

Historic Light Station Information and Photography - Texas

Information and historic photos posted by the U.S. Coast Guard.

National Maritime Inventory - Texas

National Park Service inventory of Texas lighthouse data.

Port Isabel Lighthouse
Port Isabel Light, August 2003
Creative Commons photo by Larry Weiss

Sabine-Neches Waterway Lighthouses
Note: Starting at Sabine Pass on the Texas-Louisiana border, the Sabine-Neches Waterway provides a 40 ft (12 m) channel serving the ports of Port Arthur on the Sabine and Beaumont on the lower Neches. There are numerous range light towers along the waterway, and only some of the more conspicuous towers are listed here. Several additional waterways lights are listed on the Louisiana page.
Port Arthur Canal Northbound Range (Range E) Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 54 ft (16.5 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 54 ft (16.5 m) square skeletal tower. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo. The Port Arthur Canal is a dredged channel paralleling the west side of Sabine Lake, a large lagoon within the Sabine estuary. This range guides vessels northbound to Port Arthur. Located on the west side of the canal off Dowling Road about 6 miles (10 km) south of downtown Port Arthur. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager and status unknown. Admiralty J4022.21; USCG 4-21780.
Port Arthur Canal Southbound Range (Range F) Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 55 ft (17 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 55 ft (17 m) square skeletal tower. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo. Located on the west side of the canal off Dowling Road about 1/4 mi (400 m) northwest of the Northbound Range tower. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager and status unknown. Admiralty J4022.36; USCG 4-21800.
Port Bolivar Lighthouses
Galveston Inlet Range (Range B) Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 70 ft (21 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off; there's also a passing light showing a white flash every 4 s at focal plane 17 ft (5 m). 70 ft (21 m) square pyramidal skeletal tower, mounted on a square platform supported by piles. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Capt. Peter's distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Located in the inlet about 1/4 mi (400 m) south of the extreme western tip of Point Bolivar. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty J4037.1; USCG 4-22665.
Galveston Island Lighthouses
* [Galveston South Jetty (lantern)]: 1918. Inactive since 1972. The lantern of the collapsed Galveston South Jetty lighthouse was salvaged and restored; it now stands atop a 40 ft (12 m) decorative steel tower in Beacon Square on the campus of Galveston College. Paul Randall's photo is above. A dedication ceremony was held November 8, 2006. Located at 39th Street and Avenue Q in Galveston. Site open, tower closed.
Galveston Bay and Houston Area Lighthouses
Note: There are at least a dozen large range light towers in Galveston Bay; we list several of the ones found in the open waters of the bay.
Upper Galveston Bay Outer (Outbound) Range Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 65 ft (20 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 65 ft (20 m) square skeletal tower mounted on a square platform supported by piles. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located in the southern part of the bay about 3 miles (5 km) east of San Leon. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty J4103.1; USCG 4-23045.
Lower Galveston Bay Inner (Inbound) Range Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 119 ft (36 m); green light by night and white light by day, occulting once every 4 s and visible only on the range line; there's also a passing light showing a white flash every 4 s at focal plane 40 ft (12 m). 119 ft (36 m) triangular (?) skeletal tower mounted on a tall platform supprted by piles. No photo available, but Google has a good satellite view. Located near the center of the bay, across the ship channel from Red Fish Island. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty J4080.1; USCG 4-22955.
Morgan's Point Approach Outer (Outbound) Range Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 110 ft (33.5 m); two lights, green above white, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line; there's also a passing light showing a white flash every 4 s at focal plane 28 ft (11.5 m). 110 ft (33.5 m) triangular (?) skeletal tower mounted on a tall square platform supported by piles. No photo available, but Google has a good satellite view. Located in the northwestern part of the bay about 5 miles (8 km) east of the Clear Lake entrance. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty J4132.1; USCG 4-23220.
Upper Galveston Bay Inner (Inbound) Range Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 65 ft (20 m); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 65 ft (20 m) triangular (?) skeletal tower mounted on a square platform supported by piles. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located in the northwestern part of the bay about 1 mile (1.5 km) northeast of the entrance to the Bayport Ship Channel. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty J4104.1; USCG 4-23055.
* Kemah: 2006. Active (privately maintained and unofficial); focal plane 46 m (151 ft); white flash every 7.5 s. 144 ft (44 m) round cylindrical steel water tower with lantern and gallery at the top. Tower painted with dark blue and white horizontal bands; lantern painted red. An acrylic replica 3rd order Fresnel lens is in use. The city's water department has posted photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located at Kipp Avenue and Second Street in Kemah, on the south side of the entrance to Clear Lake from Galveston Bay. Owner/site manager: Galveston County Water Control & Improvement District #12. Site open, tower closed.
South Shore Harbour (Clear Lake): Date unknown. Active (privately maintained and unofficial). Approx. 75 ft (23 m) 16-sided tower with lantern and gallery, painted with black and white horizontal bands. Jill Hudgins has a 2007 photo, and Google has a satellite view. More information is needed on this interesting private lighthouse. Located on the south side of Clear Lake in League City, on an island at the end of Lighthouse Boulevard. In 2006 it was reported that the property was for sale and closed to the public, but Jackson Myers has a May 2007 photo of the lighthouse in action. Site status unknown, but the lighthouse can be seen from nearby. Owner/site manager: South Shore Harbour Resort and Conference Center. ARLHS USA-1184.
Freeport Area Lighthouses
* [Brazos River (lantern)]: 1896. Inactive since 1967, when the lighthouse, a 96 ft (29 m) square pyramidal skeletal tower, was demolished. Sibling of Sanibel Island FL. The lantern room and original 3rd order clamshell Fresnel lens are on display at the Brazoria County Historical Museum in Angleton. The Coast Guard has a 1945 photo and a 1964 aerial photo of the lighthouse. The original site, about 1 mile (1.5 km) southwest of the Brazos River entrance, is owned by Dow Chemical and is closed to the public. Site and museum open daily except Sundays. ARLHS USA-079.
Freeport Jetty Inbound Range Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 146 ft (44.5 m); green light by night, white by day, occulting once every 4 s. Approx. 141 ft (43 m) square skeletal tower mounted on a concrete base. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on the north side of the Dow Barge Canal in Dow Chemical's huge plant at Freeport. Site and tower closed. Admiralty J4180.1; USCG 4-25655.
Matagorda Bay Area Lighthouses
Matagorda Ship Channel Entrance: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 57 ft (18 m); white flash every 10 s. This tower also carries the rear light of the outbound exit range (white light occulting once every 4 s, also at focal plane 57 ft) plus a passing light (red flash every 4 s at focal plane 23 ft (7 m)). 52 ft (16 m) square skeletal tower with gallery. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo. Located on the north jetty at the entrance to the Matagorda Ship Channel, a cut made through the barrier about 3 miles (5 km) east of Port O'Connor and a similar distance northeast of the natural Matagorda Inlet. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty J4193.1; USCG 4-1305 (entrance light) and 25950 (range light).
Matagorda Ship Channel Entrance Range (Range A) Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 78 ft (24 m); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off; there's also a passing light showing a white flash every 4 s at focal plane 21 ft (6.5 m). 78 ft (24 m) square skeletal tower with gallery, mounted on a rectangular (double square) platform supported by piles. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located in Matagorda Bay, east of the ship channel and about 2.5 miles (4 km) northwest of the entrance. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty J4192.1; USCG 4-25970.
Matagorda: 1852 (relocated inland 1873) (Hiram G. Runnels). Reactivated (inactive 1995-1999, now privately maintained); focal plane 90 ft (27.5 m); white flash every 3 s. 79 ft (24 m) tapered cast iron tower, painted black, solar-powered 250 mm lens. The original 3rd order Fresnel lens is on display at the Calhoun County Museum in Port Lavaca. The keeper's house and all other light station buildings have been demolished. Anderson has an excellent page for the lighthouse, a 2009 photo is available, the Coast Guard has a historic photo of the light station, and Google has a satellite view. This is the first lighthouse built in Texas. Originally a sibling of Pass a l'Outre Light LA, the tower was raised from 65 ft (20 m) to 79 ft (24 m) when it was relocated, giving it an unusual tapered profile. The Matagorda Island Foundation raised over $1 million to preserve the lighthouse, and the beacon was relit December 31, 1999. After three more years of work, the restored lighthouse was rededicated June 11, 2004. In later phases of the project, the keeper's house will be rebuilt and a visitor center will be built at the state park dock. The lighthouse is located in the Matagorda Island Wildlife Management Area. There is no regular ferry service, but boats can be chartered from Port O'Connor. Located near the northeast end of Matagorda Island, opposite Port O'Connor. Site open, tower closed. Owner: Texas Parks and Wildlife (leased to Calhoun County). Site manager: Matagorda Island Foundation. ARLHS USA-482; USCG 4-1312.
Aransas Bay and Corpus Christi Area Lighthouses
*** Texas Maritime Museum (Rockport): 2003. Active (privately maintained); focal plane 43 ft (13 m); quick-flashing white light. 48 ft (14.5 m) square tower with a broad observation gallery, pyramidal roof, and a small lantern at the peak. The tower is painted black with a white trapezoidal daymark on the front face; observation room painted white; roof is red. Catherine Cook has a good 2008 photo, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. An addition to the museum built in 2003, the building houses exhibits related to Texas lighthouses. Located at 1202 Navigation Circle on the waterfront at Rockport, on the west side of Aransas Bay. Site open; museum and tower open daily except Mondays (admission fee). Owner/site manager: Texas Maritime Museum. ARLHS USA-1247; USCG 4-37036.
Corpus Christi Cut B Eastbound Range Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 128 ft (39 m); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line; there's also a quick-flashing yellow passing light at a focal plane of 36 ft (11 m). 128 ft (39 m) square skeletal tower mounted on a square platform supported by piles. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located in Corpus Christi Bay off the south side of an island southeast of Ingleside. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty J4214.41; USCG 4-27520.
Corpus Christi Cut A Westbound Range Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 78 ft (24 m); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. Approx. 65 ft (20 m) square skeletal tower mounted on a square platform supported by piles. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located in Corpus Christi Bay about 3 miles (5 km) southwest of Ingleside. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty J4214.31; USCG 4-27445.
Corpus Christi Harbor (Cut B Westbound Range Rear): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 101 ft (31 m); continuous green light visible only on the range line. 101 ft (31 m) square skeletal tower, painted white. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located in an industrial area on the south side of the inner harbor channel in Corpus Christi. Site and tower closed. Admiralty J4215.26; USCG 4-27580.
Brownsville Area Lighthouses
* Port Mansfield Range Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 77 m (23.5 m); red light occulting once every 4 s, visible only on the range line. Approx. 72 ft (22 m) square skeletal tower mounted on a square concrete base. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Port Mansfield is a fishing port on the west side of Laguna Madre, connected to the Gulf of Mexico by an artificial cut through the South Padre Island barrier beach. Located one block west off Red Fish Bay Road (TX 186) at Beacon Street in Port Mansfield. Site open, tower closed. USCG 4-28105.
Brazos Santiago Entrance Range Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 72 ft (22 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 72 ft (22 m) square skeletal tower mounted on a square platform supported by piles. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located in the sound about 1.75 mi (3 km) east southeast of Port Isabel. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty J42226.51; USCG 4-28155.
**** Port Isabel (Point Isabel): 1853 (John E. Garrey). Inactive since 1905. 57 ft (17 m) brick tower, painted white; lantern and gallery black. Replica of 1-story frame 1855 keeper's quarters (1995) houses a small museum and the office of the local Chamber of Commerce. Larry Weiss's photo is at the top of this page, a fine 2008 photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse reopened in late July 2000 following a major restoration; the Robinson Iron Company has photos of its work on the lantern and other cast iron fixtures. Located on TX 100 at Tarnava Street in Port Isabel, at the west end of the bridge to Padre Island. Site and tower open daily except Mondays (small admission fee). Owner: Texas Parks and Wildlife (Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historical Site). Site manager: Museums of Port Isabel. ARLHS USA-649.
Inland Lighthouses
Lake Conroe (Harbour Town): 1977 (rebuilt 1999). Active; characteristics unknown. 90 ft (27 m) octagonal cylindrical tower, painted with horizontal red and white bands to resemble the well-known Harbour Town Light at Hilton Head, South Carolina. An excellent photo and a 2008 photo are available, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse was rebuilt after being heavily damaged by a tornado in 1999. Located off Lakeshore Drive on a point jutting into the east side of the lake, about 4 mi (6 km) west of I-45 exit 92 near Willis. Site and tower closed, but the lighthouse can be seen from many locations arond the lake. Owner/site manager: Harbour Town on Lake Conroe. ARLHS USA-1187.
* Lake Canyon Yacht Club: 1985. Active; characteristics unknown. Approx. 25 ft (7.5 m) octagonal wooden tower with lantern, painted white; lantern is turquoise. Peter Young has a closeup photo, This was originally a faux lighthouse built as part of the Boston Sea Party restaurant in San Antonio. When the restaurant was demolished in 1985, the lighthouse was donated to the club and relocated. The base of the tower includes a room used for hearing race protests. Located on a bluff above the docks of the yacht club, off Mt. Lookout Drive on the north shore of Canyon Lake in Comal County, about 45 mi (72 km) north of San Antonio. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Lake Canyon Yacht Club.
* Horseshoe Bay: 1972. Active; characteristics unknown. 55 ft (17 m) square tower with a large observation room; the navigation beacon is on the roof. A small photo is available (near the bottom of the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of Lighthouse Drive and of a long breakwater extending into Lake Lyndon B. Johnson at Horseshoe Bay, about 45 mi (72 km) northwest of Austin. Site open, tower status unknown. Owner/site manager: unknown.
Lake Buchanan: 1984. Reactivated? (Inactive since 1990). 110 ft (33.5 m) square concrete tower with gallery, topped by a large square observation room. The lighthouse is actually painted in a red and white checkerboard pattern, but from each side it appears to have red and white horizontal bands. Built privately, this lighthouse was not a success commercially; it was repossessed by a bank in 1990 and deteriorated for years. It appears that sometime in 2006-07 it was purchased and restored; we need information on this. A good 2008 photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located near Buchanan Dam off TX 29 about halfway between Burnet and Llano and 60 mi (96 km) northwest of Austin. Site and tower closed, although the lighthouse is easily seen from the state highway. Owner/site manager: private.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Brazos Santiago (1854-1940), South Padre Island. ARLHS USA-081.
Clopper's Bar (1854-1880), Galveston Bay. ARLHS USA-1136.
Corpus Christi (1859-1878). ARLHS USA-1137.
Double Bayou (1900-1915), Galveston Bay. ARLHS USA-1179.
East Shoal (1872-1875), Pass Cavallo. ARLHS USA-1138.
Fort Point (1882-1909), Galveston Bay. ARLHS USA-297.
Galveston North Jetty (1897-?). ARLHS USA-1193.
Halfmoon Shoal (1854-about 1900), Galveston Bay. ARLHS USA-1157.
Pelican Spit (around 1860). ARLHS USA-1180.
Redfish Bar (1854-1936), Galveston Bay. ARLHS USA-1181.
Redfish Bar Cut (1900-1936), Galveston Bay. ARLHS USA-691.
Saluria (1858-1861). ARLHS USA-1139.
Swash (1858-1861), Matagorda Bay. ARLHS USA-1182.
West Shoal (1872-1875), Pass Cavallo. ARLHS USA-1140.

Notable faux lighthouses:

Half Moon Shoal replica (1998), Texas City, is an unenclosed visitor center and not a faithful replication of the original lighthouse.
Kemah Lighthouse District, Kemah. A short distance south of the Kemah Light listed above, this tower is not an aid to navigation.
Stow-a-Way Marina (Lake Conroe), about one mile (1.6 km ) north of the well-known Harbour Town lighthouse, has a functioning light, but it does not serve as an aid to navigation. ARLHS USA-1211.

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