Port Isabel Lighthouse
The Point (Port) Isabel Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse located in Port Isabel, Texas, United States that was built in 1852 to guide ships through the Brazos Santiago Pass to Port Isabel. The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 30, 1976.
On September 28, 1850, the United States Congress authorized an appropriation of $15,000 for “a lighthouse and beacon light” at Brazos Santiago Pass. Work began in February 1852. When complete, the lighthouse was an 82-foot-high brick tower and had four lights. By 1854, it had 15 lamps and 21 reflectors. A third order fresnel lens was installed in 1857 and the fixed light was varied by flashes.
The Texas State Park Board began restoring the lighthouse in 1951, and it was opened to the public in 1952. Today the lighthouse is operated as Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Site. In September 1996, a new visitors center was completed.
Where it is:
Take Highway 100 into Port Isabel. The lighthouse is located alongside Highway 100 just before the causeway leading to South Padre Island.
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
GPS:
26°4’39.8676″ N 97°12’26.7249″ W
Cost:
Ticket prices are $5.00 (adults); $4.00 (seniors 55+); $3.00 (children4 – 12 yrs.) Purchase tickets at the Keeper’s Cottage Visitor Center or at the Lighthouse. (956-943-2262)
Children must be 4 years old and 38” tall to tour the lighthouse. A child may not be carried by an adult.
Hours:
The historic Port Isabel Lighthouse is open to the public, weather permitting. Tuesday – Thursday 10am-6pm and Friday – Monday 9am – 7pm. Last ticket sold 30 minutes before closing.
The park at the Lighthouse is open to the public. The Keeper’s Cottage Visitors Center/Chamber of Commerce is open Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year’s Day.
Port Isabel Lighthouse Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in Texas
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need. Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two.
If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom. This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance.
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