Lighthouses of the United States: Southeast Texas

The United States of America is a federal union of 50 states and a capital district. Texas is the second-largest U.S. state (after Alaska) but its long coast on the Gulf of Mexico is relatively featureless and has never required very many coastal lighthouses. And unfortunately the number of historic Texas lighthouses has fallen from 7 to 5 since 2000. In May 2000 the Galveston Jetty Light collapsed into the Gulf during a severe thunderstorm and in early 2002 the Coast Guard demolished the Sabine Bank Light. In Southeast Texas only a single historic lighthouse survives, the Bolivar Point Light seen at right, and it is not active. However, this page is crowded with the many modern lights of the major harbors, including the Sabine-Neches Waterway, Galveston Bay, and Houston.

The first European settlements in Texas were made by Spain in the early 1700s. Texas continued as a Spanish colony and then as a part of Mexico after Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821. In 1836 Americn settlers in Texas declared their independence and succeeded in defeating a Mexican army that sought to retake the territory. Texas was then governed as an independent republic until it was admitted to the United States as the 28th state in 1845.

Navigational aids in Southeast Texas are operated by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston with Aids to Navigation Teams at Sabine Pass and Galveston, but ownership (and sometimes operation) of historic lighthouses has been transferred to local authorities and preservation organizations in many cases.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume J of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. USCG numbers are from Volume IV of the U.S. Coast Guard Light List.

General Sources
Texas Lighthouses
Fine photos and accounts by Kraig Anderson for five surviving light stations and fourteen that have been lost.
Online List of Lights - United States
Photos posted by Alexander Trabas. Many of these photos were taken by Capt. Peter Mosselberger ("Capt. Peter") or Capt. Theo Hinrichs ("Capt. Theo").
Lighthouses in Texas
Photos by various photographers available from Wikimedia.
World of Lighthouses - Gulf Coast of U.S.
Photos by various photographers available from Lightphotos.net.
Leuchttürme auf der USA auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard views posted by Klaus Huelse.
U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center: Light Lists
The USCG Light List can be downloaded in pdf format.
NOAA Nautical Charts
Nautical charts for the coast can be viewed online.
Navionics Charts
Navigation chart for Texas.


Bolivar Point Light, Port Bolivar, January 2009
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Joe Nevill

Jefferson County (Sabine-Neches Waterway) Lighthouses

Starting at Sabine Pass on the Texas-Louisiana border, the 79 mi (127 km) long Sabine-Neches Waterway provides a 40 ft (12 m) channel serving the ports of Port Arthur on the Sabine River and Beaumont on the lower Neches River. A project is underway to deepen the waterway to 48 ft (14.6 m). There are numerous range light towers along the waterway and only the taller towers are listed here. Several additional lights of the Sabine estuary are listed on the Louisiana page.

Port Arthur Lighthouses
Sabine Bank (2)
2002 (station established 1906). Active; focal plane 30 ft (9 m) (?); quick-flashing white light. Approx. 20 ft (6 m) square skeletal tower mounted on the concrete and iron caisson of the original Sabine Bank lighthouse (see below). The caisson is painted white. Wesley Moore has a photo of the new light but the lighthouse is not shown in Google's satellite view. Located in the open Gulf of Mexico 15 miles (25 km) southwest of the Sabine River entrance. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-712; Admiralty J3996; USCG 4-1095.
Sabine Pass Outer Range (Range A) Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 67 ft (20 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 67 ft (20 m) square skeletal tower, mounted on a square platform supported by a single concrete post. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a satellite view. This is the approach range, leading vessels to the ends of the jetties. The front light is on a short skeletal tower. Located just outside (west) of the west jetty at the Sabine Pass entrance. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. Admiralty J4002.1; USCG 4-22415.
* [Sabine Bank (1) (lantern)]
1906. Inactive since 2001. Lantern and watch room of the Sabine Bank lighthouse, which was demolished in 2001-02. The lantern is painted white and the watch room red. The original 3rd order Fresnel lens is on display at the Museum of the Gulf Coast in Port Arthur. The lighthouse, a 72 ft (22 m) cast iron sparkplug tower, was long on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List due to its advanced state of deterioration. The Coast Guard demolished the lighthouse between January and April 2002. The lantern and watch room were salvaged and restored for display in Sabine Pass. Sabine Pass suffered catastrophic damage during Hurricane Rita in September 2005, but the lantern survived. A photo is at right, a 2009 photo is available, Christine and Tom Cardaci have photos, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located in Bert Karrer-Lions Park at 6th Avenue and Broadway in Sabine Pass. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: City of Port Arthur.
Sabine River Range (Range C) Rear (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 70 ft (21 m); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 70 ft (21 m) square cylindrical skeletal tower, mounted on a concrete platform supported by piles. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Google has a street view and a satellite view of the new light. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo of the earlier light. The front light is on a much shorter skeletal tower. Located beside the highway 82 swing bridge over the Sabine estuary. Site and tower closed but there's a good view from Walter Umphrey State Park at the west (Texas) end of the bridge. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Texas highway department. Admiralty J4008.1; USCG 4-22540.

Sabine Bank lantern, Port Arthur, July 2011
Flickr Creative Commons photo by QuesterMark
Port Arthur Canal Inbound Range E Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 54 ft (16.5 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 54 ft (16.5 m) square skeletal tower. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo (also seen at right) and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The front light is on a smaller skeletal tower. The Port Arthur Canal is a dredged channel paralleling the west side of Sabine Lake, a large lagoon within the Sabine estuary. This range guides vessels northbound to Port Arthur. Located on the west side of the canal off Dowling Road (TX 87) about 6 miles (10 km) south of downtown Port Arthur. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager and status unknown. Admiralty J4022.21; USCG 4-22820.
Port Arthur Canal Outbound Range F Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 55 ft (17 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 55 ft (17 m) square skeletal tower. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The front light is on a small skeletal tower. Located on the west side of the canal off Dowling Road (TX 87) about 1/4 mi (400 m) northwest of the Northbound Range tower. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager and status unknown. Admiralty J4022.36; USCG 4-22840.
Port Arthur Canal Inbound Range G Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 73 ft (22 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 69 ft (21 m) square skeletal tower. Trabas has Capt. Theo's photo and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. The front light is on a small skeletal tower. Located in a petroleum tank farm at the southern edge of Port Arthur. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site and tower closed. Admiralty J4022.46; USCG 4-22855.
* Sabine-Neches Canal Inbound Range H Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 51 ft (16 m); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 49 ft (15 m) square skeletal tower. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The front light is on a similar skeletal tower about 35 ft (11 m) in height. Located on the east side of the canal in an RV park on Pleasure Pier Boulevard in Port Arthur. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty J4022.86; USCG 4-22910.
Port Arthur Canal Northbound Range Light
Port Arthur Canal Range E Rear Light
photo copyright Capt. Peter Mosselberger; used by permission
Sabine-Neches Canal Outbound Range K Rear
Date unknown. Active; daytime focal plane 70 ft (19 m), night focal plane 53 ft (16 m); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 70 ft (19 m) square skeletal tower mounted on a square platform supported by piles. Trabas has Capt. Theo's photo and Google has a satellite view. The front light is on a small skeletal tower. Located on the northwest shore of Sabine Lake. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site and tower closed. Admiralty J4023.21; USCG 4-22965.
Sabine-Neches Canal Inbound Range L Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 56 ft (17 m); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 70 ft (19 m) square skeletal tower mounted on a square platform supported by piles. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Capt. Theo's photo and Google has a satellite view. The front light is on a small skeletal tower. Located off the northwest shore of Sabine Lake. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site and tower closed. Admiralty J4023.26; USCG 4-22950.
Sabine-Neches Canal Range N Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 91 ft (28 m); white light in the day and green light at night, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 88 ft (27 m) square cylindrical skeletal tower mounted on a square platform supported by piles. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Capt. Theo's photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The front light is on a small skeletal tower. This range guides vessels on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway westward across the north end of Sabine Lake. Located between Old Ferry Road and TX 73 on the south side of the Nueces River. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site and tower closed. Admiralty J4023.46; USCG 4-23010.
Sabine-Neches Canal Inbound Range M/Outbound Range R Common Rear
Date unknown. Active; Range M focal plane 40 ft (12 m); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line; Range R focal plane 49 ft (15 m); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 48 ft (15 m) square cylindrical skeletal tower mounted on a square platform supported by piles. Trabas has Capt. Theo's photo and Google has a satellite view. The Range M front light and Range R front light are on shorter skeletal towers. Located on the north side of the mouth of the Neches River. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site and tower closed. Range M: Admiralty J4023.31, USCG 4-22975; Range R: Admiralty J4023.31; USCG 4-23325.

Port Neches Lighthouses
Sabine-Neches Canal Outbound Range S Rear
Date unknown. Active; daytime focal plane 53 ft (16 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 53 ft (16 m) square skeletal tower mounted on a square platform supported by piles. Trabas has Capt. Theo's photo seen at right and Google has a satellite view. The range guides outbound vessels past Port Neches. The front light is on a small skeletal tower. Located on the south side of the river east of Port Neches. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site and tower closed. Admiralty J4024.11; USCG 4-23370.
Sabine-Neches Canal Outbound Range T Rear
Date unknown. Active; daytime focal plane 57 ft (17 m); continuous green light, visible only on the range line. 57 ft (17 m) square cylindrical skeletal tower mounted on a square platform supported by piles. Trabas has Capt. Theo's photo and Google has a satellite view. The range guides outbound vessels toward Port Neches. The front light is on a shorter skeletal tower. Located on the south side of the river in refinery west of Port Neches. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site and tower closed. Admiralty J4024.76; USCG 4-23435.

Sabine-Neches Canal Range S Rear Light, Port Neches
photo copyright Capt. Peter Mosselberger; used by permission

Galveston County Lighthouses

Port Bolivar Lighthouses
Port Bolivar is a small community at the west end of the Bolivar Spit, across Galveston Inlet from the city of Galveston. The Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry carries the TX 87 highway across the inlet.
* Galveston Approach Range (Range A) Rear
1933(?). Active; focal plane 125 ft (38 m); continuous white light. Approx. 118 ft (36 m) square skeletal tower. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo (also seen at right) and Google has a a street view and good satellite view. This undistinguished tower replaced the historic Bolivar Point lighthouse. The front light is on a 43 ft (13 m) post. Located at the water's edge at Houston Avenue and 19th Street in Port Bolivar; this is about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) northeast of the historic lighthouse and close to the base of the Galveston North Jetty. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS USA-1340; Admiralty J4036.1; USCG 4-23695.
* Bolivar Point (Port Bolivar)
1873. Inactive since 1933. 117 ft (36 m) cast iron tower (brick lined). The 3rd order Fresnel lens used from 1907 to 1933 is on display at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History in Washington DC. Two 1-story keeper's quarters are used as private residences; one was being restored to its historical appearance in 2003. Joe Nevill's photo appears at the top of this page, a history of the lighthouse is available, John Schulze has a nice photo, Wikimedia has Patrick Feller's photo, the Coast Guard has a historic photo of the station, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a street view and an excellent satellite view. The lighthouse was sold at auction in 1947 and has been privately owned since then. The movie My Sweet Charlie was filmed at the lighthouse in 1968. Now black with rust, the tower is endangered by lack of maintenance. In 2015 the owner Mark Boyt chartered the Bolivar Point Lighthouse Foundation to work for restoration and commissioned an engineering study; in 2019 the engineers found the need for a restoration estimated at $2.5 million. They also warned that the lantern is in danger of falling from the tower. Fortunately the lighthouse withstood a direct hit by Hurricane Ike in September 2008. By 2022 the estimated cost of a complete restoration had reached $5 million. The U.S. Lighthouse Society granted $7500 in support of a project to stop water intrusion from the gallery. The lantern was removed for restoration in May 2023. Located just off TX 87 near 7th Street in Port Bolivar. Site and tower closed (private property), but the lighthouse can be viewed from the street. Owner/site manager: private. . ARLHS USA-069.
Galveston Inlet Range (Range B) Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 70 ft (21 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off; there's also a passing light showing a white flash every 4 s at focal plane 17 ft (5 m). 70 ft (21 m) square pyramidal skeletal tower, mounted on a square platform supported by piles. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a satellite view. The front light is on a much shorter skeletal tower. Located in the inlet about 1/4 mi (400 m) south of the extreme western tip of Point Bolivar. Accessible only by boat, but the Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry passes close by the tower. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS USA-1342; Admiralty J4037.1; USCG 4-23745.

Galveston Approach Range Rear Light, Port Bolivar
photo copyright Capt. Peter Mosselberger; used by permission

Galveston Island Lighthouses
Galveston Island is a barrier island 27 mi (43.5 km) long located about 50 km (30 mi) south of Houston across Galveston Bay. The city of Galveston occupies the island; it has a population of about 50,000.

#Galveston South Jetty
1918. Inactive since 1972 and destroyed in 2000. This was an 84 ft (26 m) cylindrical steel tower incorporating a 3-story keeper's quarters and mounted on a concrete jetty. The National Archives has a historic photo of the station. The original 3rd order Fresnel lens is on display in the lobby of the Galveston County Commissioners Court Building (722 21st Street), and the lantern is on display at Galveston College (see below and photo below right). This lighthouse was a sibling of the Angel's Gate lighthouse at Los Angeles, California. A severe thunderstorm toppled the light into the Gulf on 2 May 2000. Plans had been underway to relocate the lighthouse to Galveston Island State Park at the other end of the city, where it could have been restored and opened to visitors. Google's satellite view shows that the ruins have been cleared away but the foundation pad of the lighthouse remains. A light on a post stands off the end of the jetty (focal plane 30 ft (9 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off). The historic lens was formerly at the county historical museum; it was moved to the courthouse in 2013. Located at the end of a long jetty extending into the Gulf on the south side of the entrance into Galveston Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-315; ex-Admiralty J4030. Active light: Admiralty J4034; USCG 4-23720.
* Houston Ship Channel Outer Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 75 ft (23 m); continuous green light. 75 ft (23 m) square pyramidal skeletal tower, mounted on a square platform supported by piles. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Capt. Peter's distant view and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The range guides outbound vessels approaching the inlet. The front light is on a short skeletal tower on the grounds of the U.S. Marines Corps Reserve installation at Fort Point (Google has a satellite view). Located in marshland beside Seawall Boulevard at the northeastern end of Galveston Island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS USA-1350; Admiralty J4071.1; USCG 4-23910.
Texas City Outer Range A Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 65 ft (20 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 65 ft (20 m) square skeletal tower mounted on a square platform supported by piles. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The range guides vessels outbound from Texas City. Located south of Boddeker Road at the north end of Galveston Island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS USA-1356; Admiralty J4056.1; USCG 4-26035.
* Lower Galveston Bay Outer Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 135 ft (41 m); green light by night and white light by day, occulting once every 4 s and visible only on the range line; there's also a passing light showing a white flash every 4 s at focal plane 40 ft (12 m). 135 ft (41 m) triangular skeletal tower mounted on a tall square platform supported by piles. Piles painted orange. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. Outbound vessels follow this range and then the Houston Ship Channel Outer Range. Located adjacent to the Galveston Yacht Marina in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway a short distance south of Galveston Inlet. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS USA-1352; Admiralty J4076.1; USCG 4-23975.
Galveston Inlet Inner Range (Range C) Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 70 ft (21 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 70 ft (21 m) square pyramidal skeletal tower, mounted on a square platform supported by piles. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located in marshland on the north side of Pelican Island. Accessible only by boat at high water. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS USA-1344; Admiralty J4040.1; USCG 4-23785.
* [Galveston South Jetty (lantern)]
1918. Inactive since 1972. The lantern of the collapsed Galveston South Jetty lighthouse was salvaged and restored; it now stands atop a 40 ft (12 m) decorative steel skeletal tower in Beacon Square on the campus of Galveston College. Paul Randall's photo is at right, McKenzie Rae has a 2018 photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. A dedication ceremony was held on 8 November 2006. Located at 39th Street and Avenue Q in Galveston. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: Galveston College. ARLHS USA-315.
Galveston South Jetty LanternGalveston South Jetty Light's lantern, January 2007
ex-Flickr Creative Commons photo by Paul Randall

Texas City Lighthouses
Site of oil refineries and petrochemical plants, Texas City is an industrial city on the mainland opposite the west end of Galveston Island. The Texas City Dike, built in the 1930s, is a levee or breakwater that projects nearly 5 miles (8 km) south-east into the mouth of Galveston Bay. The Dike Road is open free to city residents but other visitors are charged a $10 enty fee.
Texas City Outer Range B Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 67 ft (20 m); red light occulting once every 4 s, visible only on the range line. 67 ft (20 m) square skeletal tower mounted on a square platform supported by piles. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has a photo and Google has a 2021 street view (an earlier version is seen at right) and a satellite view. The range guides vessels outbound from Texas City. Located just offshore near the end of the Texas City Dike. There's a good view from Dike Road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS USA-1360; Admiralty J4060.1; USCG 4-26105.
Texas City Inner Range A Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 60 ft (18 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 60 ft (18 m) square skeletal tower mounted on a square platform supported by piles. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has a photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The range guides vessels inbound toward Texas City. Located just offshore near the middle of the Texas City Dike. There's a good view from Dike Road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS USA-1354; Admiralty J4058.1; USCG 4-26055.
Texas City Inner Range B Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 56 ft (17 m); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 56 ft (17 m) square skeletal tower mounted on a square platform supported by piles. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has a photo and Google has a satellite view. The range guides vessels inbound toward Texas City. Located just offshore of the Eastman Chemical plant at the north end of the Texas City industrial complex. Site and tower closed. ARLHS USA-1358; Admiralty J4062.1; USCG 4-26115.

Outer Range B Rear Light, Texas City, May 2013
ex-Google Maps street view

Houston Ship Channel Entrance Inner Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 60 ft (18 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 60 ft (18 m) square skeletal tower mounted on a square platform supported by piles. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located in Lower Galveston Bay northeast of the Texas City Dike. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS USA-1348; Admiralty J4072.1; USCG 4-23920.
 

Middle Galveston Bay, Kemah and League City Lighthouses
Kemah and League City are cities on the west shore of Galveston Bay and the south side of the Clear Creek estuary. Kemah is a former fishing port now known for its entertainment and shopping district; it has a population of about 2000. League City is large suburban community midway between Galveston and Houston; with a population of about 112,000 it is the largest community in Galveston County.

Upper Galveston Bay Outer (Outbound) Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 65 ft (20 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 65 ft (20 m) square skeletal tower mounted on a square platform supported by piles. The tower carries two daymarks colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located in the southern part of the bay about 3 miles (5 km) east of San Leon. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS USA-1457; Admiralty J4103.1; USCG 4-24210.
Lower Galveston Bay Inner (Inbound) Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 119 ft (36 m); green light by night and white light by day, occulting once every 4 s and visible only on the range line; there's also a passing light showing a white flash every 4 s at focal plane 40 ft (12 m). 119 ft (36 m) triangular (?) skeletal tower mounted on a tall platform supported by piles. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a good satellite view. Located near the center of the bay, across the ship channel from Red Fish Island. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS USA-1351; Admiralty J4080.1; USCG 4-24060.
* Kemah Standpipe
2006. Active (privately maintained and unofficial; charted as a landmark); focal plane 46 m (151 ft); white flash every 7.5 s. 144 ft (44 m) round cylindrical steel water standpipe with lantern and gallery at the top. Tower painted with dark blue and white horizontal bands; lantern painted red. An acrylic replica 3rd order Fresnel lens is in use. David Bakehouse's photo is at right, Heino Fecht has a 2021 photo, a third photo is available, and Google has a 2023 street view and a satellite view. Although this is the taller Kemah lighthouse it has less navigational value than the light at the water's edge on 6th Street (next entry). Located just off TX 146, at Harris Avenue and 9th Street South in Kemah. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Galveston County Water Control & Improvement District #12. ARLHS USA-1410.
* Kemah
Date unknown. Active (privately maintained and unofficial; charted as a lighthouse); focal plane about 40 ft (12 m); continuous white light. Approx. 36 ft (11 m) octagonal tower with lantern, painted with blue and white horizontal bands; lantern painted red with a white roof. Lori Hefley has a closeup 2021 photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. For many years the lighthouse was painted dark blue with large white diamond-shaped markings. Waymarking.com has a photo showing this pattern and Kemah.net has a sunrise photo (last photo on the page). Located at the foot of 6th street in Kemah, on the south side of the entrance to Clear Lake from Galveston Bay. Site open, tower closed. Owner/operator: City of Kemah. .
#South Shore Harbour (Beacon Island, Harbor Island, Clear Lake)
1983. Demolished in 2023. This was a 99 ft (30 m) 16-sided steel tower with lantern and gallery, painted with black and white horizontal bands. J. Sevilla has a 2015 photo, David Fretz has a 2008 photo and Google has a satellite view and a distant 2015 street view. The lighthouse was built by a subsidiary of the American National Insurance Company as part of a large-scale development. It was removed because corrosion of supporting elements made it unsafe. Area residents are trying to generate support for building a replacement. Formerly located on the south side of Clear Lake in League City, on an island at the end of Lighthouse Boulevard. In 2006 it was reported that the property was for sale and closed to the public, but Jackson Myers has a May 2007 photo of the lighthouse in action. In 2011 a new group of developers purchased the island; they planned to build luxury homes but only a few have been built. Site closed (the access is through a gated residential neighborhood) Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-1184.
Kemah Light
Kemah Standpipe Light, May 2012
Flickr photo copyright David L. Bakehouse
used by permission

Harris County (Houston Area) Lighthouses

Houston is the fourth largest city of the United States with a population of more than 2.3 million within the city limits and more than 4.7 million in Harris County. The Port of Houston, connected to the Gulf of Mexico by the Houston Ship Channel, is the second busiest port in the country as measured by overall tonnage.

Upper Galveston Bay and Bayport Terminal Lighthouses
The Bayport Terminal is a major container terminal opened in 2007 to provide some relief to the overly crowded Port of Houston.
Morgan's Point Approach Outer Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 110 ft (33.5 m); two lights, green above white, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line; there's also a passing light showing a white flash every 4 s at focal plane 28 ft (11.5 m). 110 ft (33.5 m) triangular skeletal tower mounted on a tall square platform supported by piles. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo (also seen at right) and Bing has a good satellite view. This range guides ships departing the Port of Houston. Located in the northwestern part of the bay about 5 miles (8 km) east northeast of the Clear Lake entrance. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS USA-1448; Admiralty J4132.1; USCG 4-24400.
Bayport Ship Channel Outer Range Rear (?)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 96 ft (29.5 m); green light at night, white during the day, 3 s on, 3 s off; also a passing light (white flash every 4 s) at a focal plane of 14 ft (4 m). 96 ft (29.5 m) square skeletal tower mounted on a triangular platform supported by piles. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Bing has a satellite view. The range guides vessels leaving Bayport. Located about 2.5 mi (4 km) due east of the junction of the Bayport and Houston Ship Channels. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty J4132.41; USCG 4-24440.
Bayport Directional (2)
Date unknown. Active (privately maintained); focal plane 162 ft (49 m); continuous light, white, red or green depending on direction. 157 ft (48 m) triangular cylindrical skeletal tower. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located in a petroleum tank farm at the west end of the Bayport Ship Channel. Expansion of the tank farm required a reconstruction of this light in recent years. Site and tower closed; there's a distant view from TX 146. Admiralty J4132.8; USCG 4-24467.
Bayport Ship Channel Inner Range Rear
Date unknown. Inactive since 2018. Approx. 66 ft (20 m) square skeletal tower carrying a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Google has a satellite view and a distant 2023 street view. The directional light made this light redundant. Located on the west side of TX 146. Site status unknown. ex-Admiralty J4132.81; ex-USCG 4-24470.
Upper Galveston Bay Inner Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 65 ft (20 m); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 65 ft (20 m) square skeletal tower mounted on a square platform supported by piles. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located in the northwestern part of the bay about 1 mile (1.5 km) northeast of the entrance to the Bayport Ship Channel. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty J4104.1; USCG 4-24220.

Morgans Point Approach Outer Range Rear Light,
Galveston Bay
photo copyright Capt. Peter Mosselberger; used by permission

Buffalo Bayou (Houston Harbor) Lighthouses
Buffalo Bayou is an estuary that winds through the south side of Houston; dredging has converted it to a busy harbor.

Barbours Cut Crossing Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 50 ft (15 m); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. 50 ft (15 m) square skeletal tower mounted on a square platform supported by piles. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Capt. Peter's, photo, Google has a distant street view, and Bing has a satellite view. This range guides outbound vessels through a curve at the junction of the Barbours Cut Terminal Channel. Located on the east side of the channel. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty J4142.11; USCG 4-24610.
* [Morgan's Point Approach Inner Range Rear]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 99 ft (30 m); green light at night, white during the day, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only on the range line. Approx. 92 ft (28 m) round robust steel mast. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This is an entrance range for Buffalo Bayou. Located on the north side of TX 99 just west of the Goose Creek Bridge. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty J4142.06; USCG 4-24590.
Upper Red Light Bend Inbound Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 76 ft (23 m); quick-flashing red light. 76 ft (23 m) square skeletal tower on a tall platform supported by four robust piles. Tower and piles painted brown. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on the east side of the river next to an Exxon facility at the south entrance to the bend. Site and tower closed. ARLHS USA-1449; Admiralty J4142.65; USCG 4-25230.
Lower Peggys Lake Outbound Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 97 ft (30 m); quick-flashing red light. 97 ft (30 m) square skeletal tower. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo but the tower is hard to distinguish in Google's satellite view. Located on the main pier of the Exxon facility. Site and tower closed. USA-1453; Admiralty J4143.05; USCG 4-25330.
Lower Peggys Lake Outbound Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 137 ft (42 m); red light occulting once every 4 s. 137 ft (42 m) square skeletal tower on a platform supported by piles. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo (also seen at right) and Google has a satellite view. Located on the east side of the bayou about 600 ft (180 m) north of the Upper Red Bend Inbound Front Light. Site and tower closed. USA-1454; Admiralty J4143.06; USCG 4-25335.
Upper Red Light Bend Inbound Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 151 ft (46 m); red light occulting once every 4 s. 148 ft (45 m) square skeletal tower on a tall platform supported by four robust piles. Tower and piles painted brown. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located beside Bayway Drive 1/2 mi (800 m) north of the front light. Site and tower closed. ARLHS USA-1450; Admiralty J4142.66; USCG 4-25235.
Lower Peggys Lake Inbound Range Front (2) (?)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 73 ft (22 m); quick-flashing red light. 73 ft (22 m) triangular skeletal tower on a platform supported by piles. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Bing has a satellite view. Located on the west side of the river off the Bostco Barge Dock. Site and tower closed. ARLHS USA-1451; Admiralty J4143; USCG 4-25320.

Lower Peggys Lake Outbound Range Rear Light
photo copyright Capt. Peter Mosselberger; used by permission

Lower Peggys Lake Inbound Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 138 ft (42 m); red light occulting once every 4 s. 138 ft (42 m) triangular skeletal tower on a platform supported by piles. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on the east side of the river about 600 ft (180 m) north of the Upper Red Bend Inbound Front Light. Site and tower closed. ARLHS USA-1452; Admiralty J4143.01; USCG 4-25325.
Crossover Outbound Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 63 m (19 m); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 63 m (19 m) square skeletal tower on a platform supported by piles. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located a short distance northeast of the Lower Peggys Lake Inbound Range Rear Light. Site and tower closed. Admiralty J4143.56; USCG 4-25485.

Brazoria County Lighthouses

Angleton Lighthouse
* [Brazos River (lantern)]
1896. Inactive since 1967, when the lighthouse, a 96 ft (29 m) square pyramidal skeletal tower, was demolished. Sibling of Sanibel Island, Florida. The lantern room and original 3rd order clamshell Fresnel lens are on display at the Brazoria County Historical Museum in Angleton. The Coast Guard has a historic photo of the lighthouse and Google has a street view and a satellite view of the lantern. The original site, about 1 mile (1.5 km) southwest of the Brazos River entrance, is owned by Dow Chemical and is closed to the public. Located on North Velasco Street in Angleton next to the Brazoria County Courthouse. Site and museum open daily except Sundays. ARLHS USA-079.

Freeport Lighthouses
* Freeport Harbor Outbound Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 50 ft (15 m); continuous red light. Approx. 48 ft (14.5 m) square skeletal tower carrying a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has a photo and Google has a 2023 street view and a satellite view. The front light is on a short skeletal tower. Located off Thunder Road in Surfside Beach; this is on the east side of the harbor entrance a short distant east of the Freeport Coast Guard Station. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty J4181.31; USCG 4-27010.
Freeport Jetty Inbound Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 146 ft (44.5 m); green light by night, white by day, occulting once every 4 s. Approx. 141 ft (43 m) square skeletal tower mounted on a concrete base. The tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Trabas has a photo and Google has a satellite view. The front light is on a short skeletal tower. Located on the north side of the Dow Barge Canal in Dow Chemical's huge plant at Freeport. Site and tower closed. Site manager: Dow Chemical Texas. ARLHS USA-1400; Admiralty J4180.1; USCG 4-26975.

Montgomery County Lighthouse

Lake Conroe Lighthouses
Lake Conroe (Harbour Town)
1977 (rebuilt 1999). Active (charted by Navionics); focal plane about 90 ft (27 m); white light, pattern unknown. 90 ft (27 m) octagonal cylindrical tower, painted with horizontal red and white bands to resemble the well-known Harbour Town Light at Hilton Head, South Carolina. A photo is at right, a 2018 photo is available, Cliff Pumphrey has a 2008 photo and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse was rebuilt after being heavily damaged by a tornado in 1999. Located off Lakeshore Drive on a point jutting into the east side of the lake, about 4 mi (6 km) west of I-45 exit 92 near Willis in Montgomery County, about 80 km (50 mi) northwest of Houston. Site and tower closed, but the lighthouse can be seen from many locations around the lake. Owner/site manager: Harbour Town on Lake Conroe. . ARLHS USA-1187.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

  • Clopper's Bar (1854-1880), Morgan's Point, Upper Galveston Bay. Nothing remains of the this cottage screwpile lighthouse; it became obsolete when the Houston Ship Channel was dredged. ARLHS USA-1136.
  • Double Bayou (1900-1915), Oak Island, east side of Trinity Bay. Nothing remains of this cottage screwpile lighthouse, which was destroyed by the 1915 Galveston Hurricane. ARLHS USA-1179.
  • Fort Point (1882-1909; a fog signal remained active until 1950), Galveston Bay just off the northeastern tip of Galveston Island. Huelse has a historic postcard view. The site is now part of the Galveston Coast Guard Station. ARLHS USA-297.
  • Galveston North Jetty (1897-?). Nothing remains of this lighthouse.A light on a post stands off the end of the jetty (focal plane 30 ft (9 m); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off). ARLHS USA-1193. Active light: Admiralty J7032; USCG 4-23725.
  • Halfmoon Shoal (1854-1930s), Galveston Bay off Texas City. The original lighthouse was destroyed by the great Galveston Hurricane of September 1900. A replacement was built in 1902 and remained in service to the 1930s. Nothing remains of the lighthouse. ARLHS USA-1157.
  • Pelican Spit (around 1860), off Pelican Island, just north of Galveston Island The new lighthouse was demolished by Confederate troops early in the Civil War. ARLHS USA-1180.
  • Redfish Bar (1854-1936), Galveston Bay, east side of the Houston Ship Channel. Nothing remains of this lighthouse. ARLHS USA-1181.
  • Redfish Bar Cut (1900-1936), Galveston Bay, east side of the Houston Ship Channel. Nothing remains of this lighthouse. . ARLHS USA-691.
  • Trinity River (1900-1915), Trinity Bay at the mouth of the river. Nothing remains of this lighthouse, which was destroyed by the 1915 Galveston Hurricane. ARLHS USA-1183.

Harbour Town Light, Lake Conroe, June 2009
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by epicanis

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: East: Louisiana | South: South Texas

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Checked and revised October 25, 2023. Lighthouses: 46. Site copyright 2023 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.