Point Bolivar Light is a historic lighthouse in Port Bolivar, Texas, that was built in 1872. It served for 61 years before being retired in 1933, when its function was replaced by a different light.
The current lighthouse is at least the second structure at the site. The first lighthouse was built in 1852 of cast iron made at the Baltimore foundry of Murray and Hazlehurst,[2] and was pulled down during the Civil War so that Union warships could not use it as a navigational aid.
1862 map of Galveston showing the position of the lighthouse
During the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, the lighthouse served as a shelter for at least 125 people, saving their lives. In 1915, the lighthouse also survived another hurricane, where winds of 126 miles per hour were recorded. The first lighthouse keeper, H. C. Claiborne, retired in 1918, after witnessing those two storms, and was replaced by a Captain J. Brooks. From the 1890s until the line's abandonment in 1942, the lighthouse looked down on the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway line that ran between it and Texas State Highway 87.
Port Bolivar Lighthouse
The War Department took possession of the lighthouse in 1935. It was transferred to the War Assets Administration. In 1947, the lighthouse was sold to rancher Elmer V. Boyt, and remains in the family. The 1970 film My Sweet Charlie, starring Patty Duke and Al Freeman Jr. was filmed at the lighthouse and adjacent caretaker's house. Although still standing, is not open to the public. [3]
Currentedit
After withstanding over 150 years of erosion, the lighthouse has rusted to a dark brown color.
Point Bolivar Lighthouse
The lighthouse is adjacent to the Houston Audubon Society's Horseshoe Marsh Bird Sanctuary.
point, bolivar, light, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, july, 2013, learn, when, remove, this, template, messag. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations July 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message Point Bolivar Light is a historic lighthouse in Port Bolivar Texas that was built in 1872 It served for 61 years before being retired in 1933 when its function was replaced by a different light Point Bolivar LighthousePort Bolivar Lighthouse in 2010LocationSH 87 Port Bolivar TexasCoordinates29 22 00 N 94 46 01 W 29 366787 N 94 766972 W 29 366787 94 766972TowerConstructionbrick covered with cast iron sheetsHeight116 feet 35 m ShaperoundHeritageNational Register of Historic Places listed place National Register of Historic Places listed place LightFirst lit1852Deactivated1933LensFresnel lensPoint Bolivar LighthouseU S National Register of Historic PlacesArea0 3 acres 0 12 ha Built1872 1872 Built byBureau of LighthousesArchitectural styleMalleable Iron LighthouseNRHP reference No 77001445 1 Added to NRHPAugust 18 1977The current lighthouse is at least the second structure at the site The first lighthouse was built in 1852 of cast iron made at the Baltimore foundry of Murray and Hazlehurst 2 and was pulled down during the Civil War so that Union warships could not use it as a navigational aid Contents 1 History 2 Current 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory edit nbsp 1862 map of Galveston showing the position of the lighthouseDuring the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 the lighthouse served as a shelter for at least 125 people saving their lives In 1915 the lighthouse also survived another hurricane where winds of 126 miles per hour were recorded The first lighthouse keeper H C Claiborne retired in 1918 after witnessing those two storms and was replaced by a Captain J Brooks From the 1890s until the line s abandonment in 1942 the lighthouse looked down on the Gulf Colorado amp Santa Fe Railway line that ran between it and Texas State Highway 87 nbsp Port Bolivar LighthouseThe War Department took possession of the lighthouse in 1935 It was transferred to the War Assets Administration In 1947 the lighthouse was sold to rancher Elmer V Boyt and remains in the family The 1970 film My Sweet Charlie starring Patty Duke and Al Freeman Jr was filmed at the lighthouse and adjacent caretaker s house Although still standing is not open to the public 3 Current editAfter withstanding over 150 years of erosion the lighthouse has rusted to a dark brown color nbsp Point Bolivar LighthouseThe lighthouse is adjacent to the Houston Audubon Society s Horseshoe Marsh Bird Sanctuary See also edit nbsp National Register of Historic Places portal nbsp Texas portalNational Register of Historic Places listings in Galveston County TexasReferences edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service November 2 2013 Rowlett Russ Tall Towers of Iron 1844 1881 The Lighthouse Directory University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Retrieved 2018 04 05 Lighthousefriends com Retrieved 2014 12 19External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bolivar Point Light A tribute to the lighthouse Bolivar Lighthouse from the Handbook of Texas Online Houston Audubon Society Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Point Bolivar Light amp oldid 1159051085, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
