Point Bolivar Light
Encyclopedia
Point Bolivar Lighthouse 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 the mid 1850s and was pulled down during the Civil War so that Union warships could not use it as a navigational aid.
During the Galveston Hurricane of 1900
, the lighthouse served as a shelter for at least 125 people, saving their lives. It also survived another hurricane, in 1915, 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. In 1947 the lighthouse was sold and, although still standing, is not open to the public. The 1970 film My Sweet Charlie
, starring Patty Duke
and Al Freeman Jr. was filmed at the lighthouse and adjacent caretaker's house.
The lighthouse is adjacent to the Houston Audubon Society's Horseshoe Marsh Bird Sanctuary.
After withstanding over 150 years of erosion, the lighthouse is now entirely black. This has caused some to call it "The Haunted Lighthouse" of Bolivar.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
in Port Bolivar, Texas
Port Bolivar, Texas
Port Bolivar is an unincorporated area located in the Bolivar Peninsula census-designated place, in Galveston County, Texas, United States state of Texas within Galveston County and part of the metropolitan area., Port Bolivar had a population of 1,200...
, 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 the mid 1850s and was pulled down during the Civil War so that Union warships could not use it as a navigational aid.
During the Galveston Hurricane of 1900
Galveston Hurricane of 1900
The Hurricane of 1900 made landfall on the city of Galveston in the U.S. state of Texas, on September 8, 1900.It had estimated winds of at landfall, making it a Category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale...
, the lighthouse served as a shelter for at least 125 people, saving their lives. It also survived another hurricane, in 1915, 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. In 1947 the lighthouse was sold and, although still standing, is not open to the public. The 1970 film My Sweet Charlie
My Sweet Charlie
My Sweet Charlie is an American television movie directed by Lamont Johnson. The teleplay by Richard Levinson and William Link is based on the novel of the same name by David Westheimer. Produced by Universal Television and broadcast by NBC on January 20, 1970, it later had a brief theatrical...
, starring Patty Duke
Patty Duke
Anna Marie "Patty" Duke is an American actress of stage, film, and television. First becoming famous as a child star, winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 16, and later starring in her eponymous sitcom for three years, she progressed to more mature roles upon playing Neely...
and Al Freeman Jr. was filmed at the lighthouse and adjacent caretaker's house.
The lighthouse is adjacent to the Houston Audubon Society's Horseshoe Marsh Bird Sanctuary.
After withstanding over 150 years of erosion, the lighthouse is now entirely black. This has caused some to call it "The Haunted Lighthouse" of Bolivar.