Sand Island Lighthouse Sticker

Sticker dimensions: 4" x 4"

"Sand Island Lighthouse, located roughly three miles from the Mobile Bay entrance, between Mobile Point on the east and Dauphin Island on the west, stands Sand Island Lighthouse on a narrow strip of land that was once 400 acres.

In 1837, Congress allocated $10,000 and Winslow Lewis began construction on Alabama's first and only seacoast light. It stood 55 feet tall and had 14 lamps in 16 inch reflectors that could be seen for roughly 15 miles at night. In 1839, for $500 per year, John McCloud was hired as the first keeper.

As the years went by, the land around Sand Island Light was slowly eroding away. It was apparent by the 1850s,there was a need for a new lighthouse. In 1858, under the direction of Army Engineer Danville Leadbetter, a conical brick tower was constructed and the tallest lighthouse to be built proudly displayed its 1st order Fresnel lens in 1859. Two years later the Confederate soldiers discovered Yankees in the tower spying on Ft. Morgan and the structure was blasted into the water.

After the destruction, a wooden tower 48 feet high was built and it marked Sand Island from 1864 to 1873. In September of 1873, a new 125 foot lighthouse was in operation. Shortly, a two story keepers' house was built. By 1880, the foundation was breaking apart due to erosion. Jetties were extended and by 1888, 10 feet of sand separated the lighthouse from the sea. Granite was added around the base and 10 years later, 6,000 or more tons were added. In 1901, the keepers' house was torn down and a smaller dwelling was built.

The lighthouse was manned with two keepers and their wives and a few days before the 1906 hurricane struck, one of the keepers went to shore. The hurricane took the light out and the remaining keeper and wives were gone...never to be found. A second hurricane struck in 1919. A landing party was sent to see why the light was out but they found the station deserted. A log, which kept the daily activities of the keepers, stated that he had gone to pick up a new employee. They were never found and it was assumed that their boat had overturned in the rough seas returning to the lighthouse.

In 1921, the lighthouse was automated and was deactivated 11 years later. In 1971, the second-order Fresnel lens was removed and placed in the Ft. Morgan Museum, where it is kept today. In 1973, the keepers' house burned down.

Today, the lighthouse is owned by the residents of Dauphin Island where an extensive restoration process is beginning. The Alabama Lighthouse Association continues its support for the restoration of this historical landmark. While it looks very promising that the lighthouse and its site can be restored someday, the need for funding will be essential. The Alabama Lighthouse Association continues its support for the restoration of this light."

Alabama Lighthouse Association