Southwest Reef Lighthouse

Oct. 17, 2019
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Southwest Reef Lighthouse, Southwest Reef in Atchafalaya Bay, Berwick, Louisiana

Built in 1856.

SOUTHWEST REEF LIGHT

Location: ATCHAFALAYA BAY, NEAR BERWICK, LOUISIANA
Station Established: 1858
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1858
Operational? NO
Automated? N/A
Deactivated: 1916
Foundation Materials: PILE WITH TWO PLATFORMS
Construction Materials: IRON PLATE
Tower Shape: SQUARE PYRAMIDAL SKELETAL
Markings/Pattern: RED, PLATFORM WITH BUNGALOW
Relationship to Other Structure: INTEGRAL
Original Lens: FOURTH ORDER FRESNEL LENS

Historical Information:           

  • In 1858 the Southwest Reef Light was built. The square pyramid lighthouse is fully enclosed in iron boiler plate. It may be one of two that were built with this design.
  • In 1916 a new channel was dredged in the Atchafalaya Bay. This channel made the light obsolete. Point Au Fer Reef replaced the Southwest Reef Light.
  • Southwest Reef was decommissioned and sat idle. In 1987, the town of Berwick, Louisiana relocated the light to their park. It now sits in the Everett S. Barry Lighthouse Park. It is open to the public.
Land Asset Lighthouse