A Lighthouse Tale

An old weathered red and white lighthouse overlooks the blue lagoon at Half Moon Caye of Lighthouse Reef Atoll. The brick foundation is slowly crumbling into the waves and the sea salt has been eating away the steel frame. After reading a research paper on the cayes of Lighthouse Reef Atoll (Stoddart 1962), I discovered the history of this particular lighthouse.

The first lighthouse on Half Moon Caye was built in 1820 and was lit on December first of that year. The lighthouse was replaced in 1845 and built midway between the north and south sides of the caye. Hurricanes have actually moved the caye northward, now the lighthouse rests at the edge of the sea. The steel frame tower was built on the brick foundation in 1933.

There has been interest in preserving this historic landmark but no efforts due to limited funding. Based on my own observations, the old lighthouse is currently used by a pair of Ospreys as a nesting place.