Round Island Lighthouse

Round Island Lighthouse stood from 1859 to 1998 on the southwest end of Round Island in the Mississippi Sound, 4 miles south of Pascagoula, Mississippi. In September 1998, the lighthouse was toppled by Hurricane Georges. In 2010, the base of the structure and other lighthouse remnants were removed from Round Island and relocated within the City of Pascagoula for restoration.

In 1833, the United States Lighthouse Board contracted for construction of a lighthouse on Round Island in the Mississippi Sound. By 1854, the Lighthouse Board determined that the structure was poorly built and was too close to the water, which eroded the foundation. Construction of a second lighthouse along with a keeper’s dwelling was contracted and completed in 1859 at a cost of $7,130.97.  The 1859 tower stood 50 feet tall with a focal plane of 44 feet above sea level and had a visible range of 10 to 12 nautical miles; 19 to 23 kilometres (12 to 14 mi) from a fourth order Fresnel lens.

During the American Civil War (1861-1865), the Fresnel lens was removed from Round Island Lighthouse by Confederate soldiers and transported to Montgomery, Alabama for safekeeping.

Round Island Lighthouse was automated in 1944 but was deactivated 5 years later. After deactivation, the U.S. Coast Guard maintained the lighthouse as a day beacon, without illumination, through 1954.

In 1955, the lighthouse, dwelling, pier, and outbuildings were declared excess property by the General Services Administration. Through the years, the lighthouse suffered from vandalism, disrepair, and wave erosion. In 1986, the lighthouse and approximately 50 acres of land were deeded to the City of Pascagoula by the Bureau of Land Management. The lighthouse was added the National Register of Historic Places on October 9, 1986.

In September 1998, Round Island Lighthouse was toppled by Hurricane Georges. Plans were made to rebuild the lighthouse at its original location on Round Island, and construction was initiated. However, in August 2005, rebuilding efforts ended when Hurricane Katrina destroyed the partially reconstructed lighthouse. Because of the precarious location on Round Island, that exposed the lighthouse to erosion and destruction from future storms, the Pascagoula City Council made a decision to rebuild the lighthouse within the City of Pascagoula, using as much of the original construction materials as could be salvaged from the island. As of 2012, the original base of the lighthouse and the restored lantern gallery had been secured at their new location, just south of U.S. Route 90 in Pascagoula. By July 2014, the exterior of the lighthouse had been restored and topped with the original lantern gallery.

Where it is:

Pascagoula Mississippi, take Highway 90 to the east side of the Pascagoula River, and you will see the restored lighthouse on the south side of the road near the intersection with Pascagoula Street.

Lighthouse Park:

815 Cypress Avenue,

Pascagoula MS 39567

Maps:

Interactive Google Map

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GPS:

30°22’14.004″ N 88°33’22.044″ W

Round Island Lighthouse Photo Gallery

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More Photographic Destinations in Mississippi

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