| Coordinates: | 30.1878°N -88.0506°W | ||||||||||||
| Yearbuilt: | 1838 (first) 1859 (second) 1864 (third) | ||||||||||||
| Yearlit: | 1873 (current) | ||||||||||||
| Automated: | 1948 | ||||||||||||
| Yeardeactivated: | 1971 | ||||||||||||
| Foundation: | stone | ||||||||||||
| Construction: | brownstone tower | ||||||||||||
| Shape: | tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern | ||||||||||||
| Marking: | unpainted tower, black lantern, and balcony | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 131feet | ||||||||||||
| Lens: | 1838: 14 lamps with 16-inch reflectors 1859: First order Fresnel lens 1862-63: Fourth order Fresnel lens 1873: Second order Fresnel lens, now at the Fort Morgan Museum | ||||||||||||
| Characteristic: | F W | ||||||||||||
| Range: | 0miles | ||||||||||||
| Fogsignal: | bell struck every 20 seconds | ||||||||||||
| Managingagent: | Town of Dauphin Island[1] | ||||||||||||
| Module: |
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Sand Island Light, also known as Sand Island Lighthouse (and historical light station), is a decommissioned lighthouse located at the southernmost point of the state of Alabama, United States, near Dauphin Island, at the mouth of Mobile Bay, Alabama, United States. It is located roughly 3miles offshore from the primary Mobile Bay entrance, bounded on the east by Mobile Point and on the west by Dauphin Island.[2] The lighthouse is high.
The first lighthouse on Sand Island, constructed by Winslow Lewis in 1837, was a 55feet structure completed in 1839. The lighting was provided by 14 lamps in 16-inch reflectors and a first-order lens, known as the Lewis lamp, which was a poorly designed version, or Argand-style lamp.[3] Lewis enjoyed a monopoly through his relationship withStephen Pleasonton that lasted until 1853.[4]
In 1859 a new lighthouse was completed but was destroyed during the Civil War, on February 23, 1863, by Confederate John W. Glenn. After the Confederates at Fort Morgan observed U.S. Army soldiers in the lighthouse reconnoitering the fort, the guns of the fort fired upon the island, destroying the lighthouse.[2] In 1864 a 48feet wooden tower was built that lasted until 1873.[5]
By September 1864, the current lighthouse was completed, which included a two-story Lighthouse keepers dwelling, and the land at the time was approximately . The base is in diameter and thick, constructed on 171 interconnected wood pilings[6] covered with of concrete, and with a 125feet focal height.[7]
Sand Island faced continuous erosion to the point where granite blocks were being added to the island to try and stave off the deterioration and loss of the lighthouse.[2] Restoration efforts primarily stabilized the island through 2008.[2] Sand Island Lighthouse's dire situation is similar to its "sister light", the Morris Island Lighthouse, near Charleston, South Carolina. Both lighthouses were on eroded sandy islands, leaving the towers surrounded by water.[2]
In December 2011, the construction of a new island was completed. of sand was dredged from the sea floor and deposited around the lighthouse creating a 2600feet by 500feet, or approximately 15acres, island.[8] Less than a year later the $6,000,000 restoration of the island was washed away by Hurricane Isaac.[9]
The Dauphin Island Foundation (founded in 1991) works with the Alabama Lighthouse Association and acts as an agent and administrator for the Sand Island Restoration Project. There are seven general directors, nine directors at large, and also includes as directors:[10]
The Sand Island Lighthouse is on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List, as one of the most endangered lighthouses in the country, It, and the Mobile Bay lighthouse, was damaged by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Repairing that damage will further delay restoration efforts.
The image of this lighthouse was used as a stamp cancellation.[11]
