East Rigolets Light, entrance to the Rigolets from Lake Borgne, Louisiana
Built in 1833, deactivated in 1874, destroyed sometime after 1923.
EAST RIGOLETS LIGHT
Location: RIGOLETS WATERWAY, MISSISSIPPI SOUND, GULF OF MEXICO
Station Established: 1833
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1833
Operational? NO
Automated? N/A
Deactivated: 1847
Foundation Materials: UNKNOWN
Construction Materials: MASONRY TOWER
Tower Shape: CONICAL
Markings/Pattern: WHITE
Relationship to Other Structure: SEPARATE
Original Lens: 10 LAMPS AND REFLECTORS
Historical Information:
- Congress first authorized the construction of a lighthouse at the east end of the Rigolets in 1831.
- Marshall Lincoln built a 45-foot tower in 1833. The first lantern held a revolving chandelier of 10 lamps, tended the first seven years of the station's operation by Isaac H. Smith.
- The station's second keeper was fired for drunkenness.
- From 1840 to 1844 five different keepers were appointed, with most lasting less than a year on the job. During this time the tower fell into disrepair.
- The tower survived the Civil War unscathed and was relit on November 21, 1862.
- A new, larger lantern was added in 1866, which required the rebuilding of the top 4 feet of the tower.
- The station was discontinued on May 25, 1874, as it was "no longer required for purposes of navigation."
- The lighthouse was sold to a private party in 1923. It was destroyed. The ruins are visible in the water.
Researched and written by Melissa Buckler, a volunteer through the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society.