Sabine Pass Lighthouse
The Sabine Pass Lighthouse, or Sabine Pass Light as it was referred to by the United States Coast Guard, is a historic lighthouse, as part of a gulf coast light station, on the Louisiana side of the Sabine River, in Cameron Parish, across from the community of Sabine Pass, Texas. It was first lit in 1857 and was deactivated by the Coast Guard in 1952. One of only three built in the United States of similar design, the light was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as “Sabine Pass Lighthouse” on December 17, 1981.
After years of being passed between various federal and state agencies, the surviving structure was sold at auction in 1985 to a pair of businessmen who had plans to build a marina or restaurant featuring the tower. These plans were never realized, and in 2001 they donated it to the Cameron Preservation Alliance, which has constructed a road to the abandoned and decaying tower, This preservation group has plans to make the 42-acre property into a parish historical museum. Cheniere Energy has built an LNG terminal with an improved gravel road passing the plant and ending at the lighthouse property,
Historical Information:
- Designed and built by Captain Leadbetter. Considered to be a “sister” lighthouse to Aransas Pass, Timbalier & Barataria towers.
- 1861 – Extinguished by the Confederates.
- January, 1862 – The lamps, lens and clockwork were dismantled and crated for storage.
- April, 1863 – Union forces attacked twice, and damaged the lens.
- June, 1886 – Storm created an 8-foot tide which surrounded the tower with 5-feet of water. All the buildings on the site, except the lighthouse itself, were washed away.
- 1915 – A powerful hurricane caused the tower to vibrate, thus putting the clockworks out of order. The keepers had to turn the revolving lens by hand.
- 1952 – The lighthouse was discontinued and sometime during the next two years was transferred to the State of Louisiana.
- 1986 – The property was transferred into private hands.
Where it is:
The Sabine Pass Lighthouse is on private property and must be accessed by using Lighthouse Road which travels through Cheniere LNG Terminal. You must check in at the Cheniere Energy entrance to visit the lighthouse.
Cameron, LA 70631 (337) 569-2892 to get on the visitors’ list.
You can drive to the lighthouse, but you may need a four-wheel drive if it has recently rained.
If you visit at high tide there will be several inches of water surrounding the lighthouse, plan on having some wading boots.
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:
29°42’59.502″ N 93°51’0.432″ W
Cost:
The lighthouse has free admission and you don’t need to get tickets in advance.
Hours:
There are no facilities available at the lighthouse.
Sabine Pass Lighthouse Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in Louisiana
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.
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