Port Isabel Lighthouse
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Port Isabel Lighthouse is located in the South East of Rio Grade Valley area of Texas, USA. Precisely, it is located in Laguna Madre Bay between Padre Island and City of Port Isabel.

It was orginally built in 1852 and first lighted in 1853. From 1853 to 1905, Port Isabel Lighthouse was the principal of two beacons, the other being the Brazos Santiago Lighthouse which was built in 1879 and was smaller beacon. It was used as an aid to nagivation at Brazos Santiago. the lighthouse was strategically located in the most elevated point for miles around the former site of  Fort Polk which was owned by the US Treasury  Department.

in 1860, Port Isabel Lighthouse had one the first female keepers, Hannah Ham, who succeeded her husband in the post after he died.

The light operation was based on fixed white light varied with a flash every minutes.
The commercial shipping at Brazos Santiago stagnated after the construction of direct railway connection between Corpus Christi and the interior of Mexico. As a result, the LightHouse Service felt that the two lights duplicated each other and deemed that Port Isabel Lighthouse was no longer needed. On April 1905, Port Isabel Lighthouse was closed as it was not necessary for. the inside commerce, the amount of which does not justify its maintenance, nor is it necessary for a coast light, as Brazos Santiago Lighthouse serves this purpose int he vicinity. After 1905, Port Isabel Lighthouse was deserted and used periodically as a tourist site. Brazos Santiago Lighthouse was used until 1940.

In 1952, the lighthouse was made into a state park. in 2000, the lighthouse was restored to its original 1880s appearance. The state as well as the City of Port Isabel has been working on trying to acquire a 3rd order Fresnel Lens to complete the project. As of to date, none has been found.

Source: Lighthouse of Texas by Lindsay Baker
Light Design

1852 - Old wick-type lamps and
           reflectors

1857 - Upgraded to 3rd Oder
           Frenel Lens

1863 - In May, light apparatus
           removed by Conferates.
           In NovemberConferates
           soldiers tried to destroy
           the lighthouse by setting
           off gun powder in the tower
           blowing off door and light
           machinery.

1866 - Another 3rd Fresnel lens
           and restoration of the light
           house completed.

1882 - Incandenscent oil vapour
           (kerosene) lamps were used.

1895 - Brazos Santiago Lighthouse
           upgraded
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