The Lighthouses of Gulf Coast States

Fort Morgan can be reached from the western side of Mobile Bay by taking a ferry from Dauphin Island. Call (334) 540-7787 for information on the Mobile Bay Ferry. From the eastern side of Mobile Bay, take Highway 180 west to its end.

Photo courtesy lburly [webshots]

rebuilt in 2000, destroyed again by Katrina in 2005

Ship Island Excursions offers ferry service from Gulfport, Mississippi to Ship Island, where the lighthouse and replica formerly stood. Ferry service is available March through October, weather permitting. The ferry dock is located on the Mississippi Sound side of the island near Fort Massachusetts. The site of the lighthouse can be reached by walking 0.3 miles east along the beach from the dock. Tours of the fort are offered by the park service, and a boardwalk leads 1/3 of a mile across the island to the Gulf, where a swimming beach is located. ^*

destroyed by Hurricane Georges, 1998.

In late 2009, the City of Pascagoula, Mississippi received permission from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History to move the base of Round Island Lighthouse from Round Island to the mainland where it will be restored in the city's downtown district near the US 90 high-rise bridge over the Pascagoula River.

We took this picture during a visit to God's Katrina Kitchen. You can see a pre-Katrina photo below.

From Interstate 10 north of Biloxi, take exit 46 to Interstate 110. Travel south on Interstate 110 for just over four miles to Highway 90. Go west on Highway 90, and you will see the lighthouse in the median in less than a half mile. (J 3578)

This probably was just a day mark for the entrance to the Marina. Since the marina is no longer operational, whether there originally was a light here is no longer clear.

This light is only a few miles west of the Biloxi light above.

destroyed by Hurricane Katrina 2005

destroyed by Hurricane Katrina 2005

Located along the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain, near the mouth of the Tchefuncte River, south of Madisonville.

Located in Lake Ponchartrain, just offshore from where Pass Manchac leads west into Lake Maurepas.

From New Orleans, take Interstate 10 East to Interstate 610 East (left exit). Continue on Interstate 610 East until the Elysian Fields Avenue exit. Turn left onto Elysian Fields. Continue north for about three miles to the traffic circle. Take the 2nd exit and you will see the lighthouse on your right between the two buildings as you U-turn left. You must check in with the guard at the gate.

Photo courtesy Coka Koehler [Flickr]

Located in the Mississipi River Delta near the junction of North Pass and Pass a Loutre. This area is part of the Pass A Loutre Wildlife Management Area. ^park

reported to have fallen 2002

Located in the Mississipi River Delta near the mouth of South Pass. This area is part of thePass A Loutre Wildlife Management Area. ^park

Today, three of the lighthouses that have served Southwest Pass remain standing. Ships can readily see the evolution of lighthouse construction as they pass the stub of a brick tower, an iron skeleton tower, and a modern Texas-tower all found near the entrance to Southwest Pass.

This lighthouse is best seen by boat or plane.

Paradise Outfitters, out of Venice, has been recommended by other lighthouse enthusiasts. ^outfitters

In 1929, a light and fog signal were established at the end of the east jetty, which was constructed at the entrance to the pass. The jetty light was upgraded to serve as the primary entrance light in 1953. It performed this function until 1965, when the modern tower was placed in the waters just off the jetties. This substantial structure was in service until the fall of 2007 when it was demolished and replaced by a skeletal tower perched atop a platform supported by three steel piles.

After winding its way south through America’s heartland, the Mississippi River separates into many channels before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. Today, the primary shipping channel is Southwest Pass. Marking the entrance to this pass is the most modern major light on the gulf, which consists of a six-sided, two-story building, with a smaller but similarly shaped tower projecting upward from its center. This superstructure, along with a boat dock and a helicopter landing pad, rests on a lattice of concrete pilings anchored in the floor of the gulf.

This light is located in the Sabine State Park. ^{State Park}

Directions: Roughly one mile east of the Sabine River, Lighthouse Road leads south for roughly four miles from Highway 82 to the lighthouse. The road is only accessible in dry conditions. To view the lighthouse from across Sabine Pass, take Highway 87 south from Port Arthur to the town of Sabine Pass. When the highway makes a right in town, continue straight on Dowling Road, which will take you to Sabine Pass Battleground State Park ^directions

Photo courtesy ccquesenberry [webshots]

Directions: To visit the Sabine Bank lighthouse in its original location, one can charter a boat in Port Arthur to take you across Sabine Lake, down the Sabine River passing the Sabine Pass lighthouse, and then out to the lighthouse. The top of the lighthouse can be see at Lions Park in Sabine Pass located at the intersection of Lincoln and Jackson. ^*

Take Highway 87 to the eastern end of Galveston and continue on Seawall Boulevard. After roughly a mile, take a right on East Beach Drive and follow it to the large parking lot at the beach. The jetty is located at the eastern end of the parking lot.

A violent storm struck the lighthouse on May 2, 2000, and the iron pilings, weakened by years of rust, gave way toppling the lighthouse into the water.

Port Oconner ^Port

Directions: Ferry service to the island used to be available, but the ferry burned and has not been replaced. Some local captains, like Captain Bob Hill, offer transportation to the island. A distant view of the lighthouse is possible from Port O'Connor. ^directions

Photo courtesy jraycjj [webshots]

The lighthouse can be seen in the distance by looking up the intracoastal waterway from Port Aransas. One good place in particular is Lighthouse Trails, a kayaking launch site next to Highway 361 between Aransas Pass and the ferry to Port Aransas. (J 4216.49)

Photo courtesy J. Prentice [Flickr]