Alabama’s best-kept secret island is home to one of the grandest lighthouses in the South. The Sand Island Lighthouse has overlooked the waters of Alabama as a local mainstay for over 150 years.
Today you can see the lighthouse for yourself or with the whole family for your next getaway. It is a historically rich journey in this quiet alcove of Alabama, with some incredible views of the Gulf of Mexico as a nice bonus.
Where is the Sand Island Lighthouse?
This famous lighthouse is located south of Dauphin Island, a barrier island with 13-miles of beautiful beaches. The island is within a short 35 to 40-minute drive from Mobile, Alabama.
A Brief History of the Lighthouse
Visiting the lighthouse is guaranteed to be a fun day trip for visitors staying in Mobile, but many prefer to stay beachside at the vacation rentals on Dauphin Island. In either case you’re sure to have a memorable experience.
In 1837, Congress approved the building of Alabama’s only lighthouse to date, with construction being managed by Winslow Lewis. The lighthouse’s first keeper, John McCloud, was paid $500 a year to stay on the island and maintain the lighthouse grounds full-time.
In 1861, Confederate soldiers blew up the lighthouse after they realized it was being utilized as a war-time spy tower.
By the 1920s, this lighthouse tower was automated and largely “left for dead,” while the land around the lighthouse systematically eroded from 400 acres to only about 1,000 feet. Several restoration attempts have been made since then, with the current restoration being managed by the Alabama Lighthouse Association and island residents.
Getting to the Lighthouse
Over time, nearly all the land around the lighthouse fell to the waters. Now, the area around the lighthouse is standing tall on a pile of rocks.
The lighthouse continues to face pressures and wear from the environment, but modern efforts to save the lighthouse have pressed on. The island was blockaded by stainless steel cables to keep numerous boulders in place and nearly 1.4 million cubic yards of sand were added to the island, but currents have steadily washed the sand to Dauphin Island beaches and into Mobile Bay.
The Alabama Lighthouse Association has continued to funnel developmental support for the lighthouse. But, three miles out to shore and with decreasing funds against strong obstacles, the project has an uncertain future.
Continued interest in maintaining and preserving this historical site will be necessary to keep it for future generations.
The Lighthouse Conservation
You can’t get to the lighthouse on foot unless you can walk on water. This isolated gulf lighthouse can be found roughly three miles from the Mobile Bay entrance. Visitors are required to rent a boat or take a boat tour to visit this long-standing attraction. The boat tours offered by Action Outdoors (251) 861-2201 are a popular way to see the lighthouse up close.
The lighthouse is technically a part of the Fort Morgan historic site (1606 Bienville Blvd B, Dauphin Island, AL 36528). It is currently owned and maintained by the residents of Dauphin Island.
Visiting the Sand Island Lighthouse
Seeing the lighthouse is free, but visitors will have to pay appropriate costs to get to the lighthouse by a boat rental or tour. Taking off from a Dauphin Island dock and heading to waters around the lighthouse is perfectly legal. Seeing the lighthouse, even from afar, is one of the top things to do for families and history buffs.
The lighthouse is a pivotal part of Dauphin Island history. You learn more about the Sand Island Lighthouse, and many other long-standing attractions, by contacting us at (251)-861-3311.
We can provide you with a list of many vacation rentals on Dauphin Island overlooking the water and near all of the rest of the exciting attractions that our island has to offer. Take your next vacation to the coast of Alabama and witness this remarkable historical icon while enjoying some of the best and quietest beach views and scenery anywhere.
Are you dreaming about your beach vacation? Start planning your trip and find the perfect Dauphin Island vacation rental for you: