Biloxi Light

Infobox Lighthouse


caption = Biloxi Light
location = Mississippi Sound, Biloxi, Mississippi
coordinates = coord|30.3946|N|88.9015|W|region:US_type:landmark
yearlit = 1848
automated = 1941
yeardeactivated =
foundation = Brick
construction = Brick encased by Cast Iron
shape = conical
marking = White tower with black balustrade
height =
lens = fourth order Fresnel lens, 1848
range =
characteristic = Fixed white

Biloxi Light is a lighthouse in Biloxi, Mississippi, adjacent to the Mississippi Sound of the Gulf of Mexico.

The lighthouse has been kept by female keepers for more years than any other lighthouse in the United States.

Authorization and construction

On March 3, 1847, the United States Congress authorized $12,000 for the construction of a lighthouse at Biloxi. The United States Department of the Treasury let a contract, dated 15 October 1847, to Murray & Hazlehurst to build an iron lighthouse for $6,347.00. The keeper's house was contracted separately. The Collector at Mobile, Alabama, purchased the site. The tower was completed and placed in operation in 1848. The tower was 45 feet from the base to the lantern room and displayed nine lamps. The first keeper was Marcellus J. Howard.

In service

Mary Reynolds, with a "large family of orphan children" was appointed keeper on 11 April 1854. She remained in service until the U.S. Civil War. She owed her appointment to Governor Albert Gallatin Brown.In 1856 the light was "refitted."

In 1860 a hurricane swept the coast and destroyed some lighthouses, but not the Biloxi light. Keeper Reynolds reported that she kept the light burning through the storm and "faithfully performed the duties of Light Keeper in storm and sunshine attending it. I ascended the Tower at and after the last destructive storm when man stood appalled at the danger I encountered."Citation needed|date=October 2008 During a storm in 1860, a portion of the sand under the lighthouse eroded away, causing the structure to lean. Later more sand was removed from the opposite side to correct this. Local authorities ordered that the light be extinguished on 18 June 1861. The light was repaired and returned to service by 15 November 1866. At that time the tower was reported to have been painted with coal tar to protect it from rust, not, as has been reported, to mourn the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

Perry Younghans was appointed keeper on 14 November 1866 but fell ill soon thereafter. His wife, Maria Younghans, took over and tended the light. Mr. Younghans died and Mrs. Younghans was appointed keeper on 6 December 1867. In 1868 the tower was painted white and almost fell during a hurricane that year. In 1880 the old keeper's house was razed and rebuilt. The seawall was washed away and the tower threatened during a hurricane on 1 October 1893. The "New Orleans Daily Picayune" of 21 October 1893 noted that "At Biloxi Mrs. Younghans, the plucky woman who was in charge of the light, kept a light going all through the storm notwithstanding the fact that there were several feet of water in the room where she lived."Citation needed|date=October 2008

In 1898 a telephone cable was laid by Reese Hutchinson between the Biloxi and the Ship Island lighthouses at the start of the Spanish-American War.

In 1916 the light was again damaged by a hurricane, and the wharf and boathouse were destroyed by a storm the following year. Maria Younghans retired on 31 December 1918 and was replaced by her daughter, Miranda, who remained as keeper until 1929. The Younghans family had maintained the light for a total of 63 years. W. B. Thompson then took over as keeper.

In 1927 the station was electrified.

In 1969 the keeper's house was destroyed by Hurricane Camille.

The tower is now owned by the City of Biloxi and is operated as a private aid to navigation.

In popular culture

The lighthouse is featured prominently on Mississippi's current automobile license plates, first issued in late 2007.

External links

* [http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/WEBLIGHTHOUSES/LHMS.html USCG site]