Honoring Local Lighthouses for National Lighthouse Day
Beacons That Shaped Our Coastal Heritage
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Four historic lighthouses stand watch along the northern Gulf Coast. Sand Island, Mobile Point, Middle Bay, and Pensacola each guided ships through treacherous waters. Their stories span centuries of maritime heritage. Preservation efforts continue to keep their legacies alive.
National Lighthouse Day is observed each year on August 7. The day honors the role these structures played in maritime safety and coastal commerce. Along the shores of Alabama and Florida, these four lighthouses remain symbols of resilience and regional identity.
Sand Island Lighthouse: Alabama’s Endangered Beacon
Located three miles offshore from Dauphin Island, the Sand Island Lighthouse stands as a symbol of Alabama’s rich maritime history. Originally constructed by Winslow Lewis in 1839, the lighthouse was destroyed during the Civil War. After multiple reconstructions, the current tower was finished in 1864 and stands 125 feet tall, supported by a sturdy base of 171 wooden pilings and a thick concrete foundation. Its architecture is similar to North Carolina’s Bodie Island Light. Over the years, it has withstood severe erosion, hurricanes, and continuous pounding from the Gulf waters.
Over the years, various restoration efforts have aimed to protect Sand Island Lighthouse, including placing granite blocks and even building an artificial island from dredged sand. Sadly, Hurricane Isaac in 2012 washed away this artificial buffer, hindering preservation. Today, it’s among the most endangered lighthouses in the country, still vulnerable to natural elements and aging. Nevertheless, its legacy lives on: its original 2nd-order Fresnel lens is exhibited at the Fort Morgan Museum, and the lighthouse remains a symbol of local preservationists’ dedication to safeguarding an important part of Alabama’s history.
Mobile Point Lighthouse: Fort Morgan’s Historic Sentinel
Located at the tip of the Fort Morgan Peninsula, the Mobile Point Lighthouse—also called the Mobile Point Range Rear—has monitored Mobile Bay since 1822. The present cast-iron skeletal structure was built in 1873, alongside a restored wooden keeper’s house from 1872. Although the tower was decommissioned in 1963, parts of the original tower were saved from a junkyard. Currently, these remnants are dismantled and waiting for much-needed restoration.
Mobile Point Lighthouse is considered one of the nation’s most endangered beacons, facing uncertain prospects for restoration. Nearby, the Mobile Point (Range A Rear) Light still aids maritime navigation, while the nearby historic Fort Morgan, known as one of the Gulf Coast’s most haunted sites, enhances the area's mystique. Visitors exploring the fort’s corridors share stories of paranormal experiences, adding to the site’s rich history and local legends.
Rising from the center of Mobile Bay, the hexagonal Middle Bay Lighthouse is affectionately known as the “Screwpile Lighthouse.” Built in 1885 on iron pilings literally screwed into the bay floor, this distinctive cottage-style lighthouse once played a crucial role in guiding ships through the bay’s frequently dangerous waters. Its design, inspired by Chesapeake Bay lighthouses, features a cozy red roof that masks its important maritime history.
Decommissioned in 1967, the Middle Bay Lighthouse endured years of neglect before being listed on the National Register of Historic Places and undergoing thorough restoration. While its iconic beacon has been replaced by a solar-powered light, the lighthouse remains a beloved landmark—a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of those who protected our waters.
The Alabama Historical Commission, which owns the lighthouse, is funding a $1.2 million restoration project now underway — the largest in the landmark's history, according to the Alabama Lighthouse Association. Work began in early 2026 and includes a new slate roof, a rebuilt deck, new aluminum handrails, wood repairs, and fresh paint.
Art Thomas, Middle Bay Lighthouse Chairman for the Alabama Lighthouse Association, said crews are using a floating work barge as a construction platform. Thomas said the project is expected to be complete by late October 2026, weather permitting.
Pensacola Lighthouse: The Gulf Coast’s Storied Guide
On the Florida coast, the Pensacola Lighthouse stands 150 feet tall above the bay, with its distinctive black-and-white tower serving as a well-known landmark for sailors since 1859. Located on a bluff at NAS Pensacola, this brick building exemplifies an “early classical” style and is home to one of the rare active 1st-order Fresnel lenses in the United States, which has been in use since 1869.
The keeper’s house has been renovated and now functions as a museum showcasing the history of both the lighthouse and the Naval Air Station. The Pensacola Lighthouse is also known as one of the most haunted sites in the country, with visitors and paranormal experts recounting stories of ghostly residents. Special ghost tours and overnight investigations give guests the chance to experience the lighthouse’s spooky history directly. Despite its ghostly reputation, the Pensacola Light continues to serve as an active navigation aid and a valued part of regional history.
Honoring Our Beacons on National Lighthouse Day
National Lighthouse Day is more than just a celebration of these impressive towers. It honors their crucial role in maritime safety, their resilience, and the local stories associated with them. This August 7, as we gaze at the horizon, let’s remember and pay tribute to these steadfast guardians of our northern Gulf Coast—symbols of our history and hopes for the future.
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