Digest>Archives> August 2000

Storm Destroys Galveston Jetty Lighthouse

Was on Lighthouse Digest’s Doomsday List

By Timothy Harrison

Comments?    


You can see an enlarged version of this picture by clicking here.
>> Click to enlarge <<
This U.S. Coast Guard photo shows the Galveston ...

The Galveston Jetty Lighthouse, (Texas), just days away from being saved by a local businessman, was destroyed in a storm, leaving nothing but mangled twisted steel.

You can see an enlarged version of this picture by clicking here.
>> Click to enlarge <<
All that remains of the Galveston (Texas) Jetty ...
Photo by: Steven Powell

Steven Powell, who visited the site and filed this report, said locals were speculating that the storm, which caused the lighthouse to collapse, also had spawned waterspouts. With the steel supports so rusted, the lighthouse stood no chance against the strong winds of the storm which also caused heavy damage to the area.

Seeing the remains of the lighthouse, Powell said he recalled the following words that he had seen at a Nature Conservancy Preserve not long ago, “People protect what they love. People love what they know. People know what they are taught.” He said apparently the Galveston Jetty Light was not a loved lighthouse.

About six months ago Jim Croft, a local businessman, came up with a plan to move the Galveston Jetty Lighthouse to the Galveston Island State Park and have it turned into a museum and interpretative center. Rumor has it that the barge to move the lighthouse was only days away from arriving at the site when the storm hit.

Another American Lighthouse has been lost forever.

This story appeared in the August 2000 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

All contents copyright © 1995-2024 by Lighthouse Digest®, Inc. No story, photograph, or any other item on this website may be reprinted or reproduced without the express permission of Lighthouse Digest. For contact information, click here.


Subscribe
to Lighthouse Digest



USLHS Marker Fund


Lighthouse History
Research Institute


Shop Online












Subscribe   Contact Us   About Us   Copyright Foghorn Publishing, 1994- 2024   Lighthouse Facts     Lighthouse History