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Matagorda Island Lighthouse
Date Issued: 2009-07-23
Postage Value: 44 cents

Commemorative issue
Gulf Coast Lighthouses
Matagorda Island Lighthouse

Matagorda Island Lighthouse was built  in 1852 and served as an historical  navigational aid allowing maritime  transportation to Matagorda Bay and its  ports. The 55-foot cast iron tower was originally erected on the northeast end of Matagorda Island at the entrance to Pass  Cavallo and was painted with red, white, and black horizontal stripes to make it visible. The lighthouse was expanded by 24 feet in 1857. During the Civil War, the light remained dark. Confederate soldiers attempted to destroy the light so that it would not fall into Union hands. They broke several of the cast iron plates and buried the lens in sand to prevent it from falling into Union hands.

After the war, the tower was disassembled and moved inland to higher ground (Figure 5). A new foundation was poured, the tower was erected, and the damage was repaired. With a new fresnel lens and fresh coat of black paint the lighthouse was put back in service on September 1, 1873. Light keepers operated the light until 1956, when electricity reached the island. The Coast Guard decommissioned the lighthouse in 1995 and transferred it to the Service. The lens was removed about six years ago and is now on display at the museum in Port Lavaca. The lighthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places and has been recognized by the Texas Historical Commission.

Topics: Bird (304)  Lighthouses (47)  

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