Sign Up  /  Login

Port Isabel Lighthouse LbNA #6886 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:BirdsofaFeather
Plant date:Jan 3, 2004
Location:
City:Port Isabel
County:Cameron
State:Texas
Boxes:1
Found by: spunkyturtle
Last found:Apr 14, 2011
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFaaa
Last edited:Oct 19, 2015
Directions:
From Houston: travel on US 59 South for about 115 miles where you will pick up US 77 South. Travel about 210 miles till you reach Texas Hwy 100 and head east for 25 miles.

From San Antonio, travel I-37 South for about 125 miles where you will pick up US 77 South. Travel 135 miles till you reach Texas Hwy 100 and head east for 25 miles.

Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historical Site is located in downtown Port Isabel at
421 East Queen Isabella Blvd (Hwy 100)
Port Isabel TX 78578

Clues:
Be discreet in your search as the park is basically a city block in downtown Port Isabel.

Start from the large blue sign labeled "A View from the Top" located on the east side of the lighthouse. From the sign, walk 33 steps at 1 degree to a tree. From the east side of the tree, walk for 12 steps at 60 degrees to the corner. From here, walk for 23 steps at 160 degrees. Next turn to 255 degrees and walk 5 paces. Look under the walkway to your left and you will find the letterbox behind the support block. Please replace the letterbox out of sight.

----------------
Port Isabel Lighthouse Letterbox



Placed By: Birds of a Feather - Change _at_ to @ for valid email
Placement Date: 01/03/2004
Nearest Town: Port Isabel, TX
County: Cameron
Difficulty Rating: 1 - What does this mean?
Terrain Rating: 1 - What does this mean?
Recommended Ink: black
Status: Alive on 11/13/2007 - report that the stamp is broken but still can stamp; 03/14/2005 - Replaced container and started 2nd log


The Port Isabel Lighthouse (originally known as Point Isabel Lighthouse) was funded by the U.S. government due to the heavy Mexico-bound shipping traffic plying the waters of navigationally tricky Brazos Santiago Pass near Point Isabel during the 1800s. The lighthouse became operational in 1853 and could be seen from 16 miles at sea. The Port Isabel Lighthouse first went black during the Civil War when Confederate troops under siege by Union forces in 1863 tried to blow up the tower with a keg of gunpowder, but succeeded only in blowing off a door and causing minor damage to the sturdy brick structure. Both sides used the tower as an observation post during the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the lighthouse reopened in 1866 and a Fresnel lens was installed to replace the one the Rebels had spirited away to Brownsville for safekeeping. The Port Isabel light was extinguished in 1905 due to expansion of railroads providing a direct link between Corpus Christi and the interior of Mexico.

The restoration of the 72 foot lighthouse was completed in 2000. The lighthouse was returned to the appearance it had following its last major operational renovation in 1880.

The antebellum lighthouse has withstood hurricanes, wars and legal skirmishes that have extinguished its beacon several times, only to shine again out of necessity and civic pride. Of the 16 lighthouses originally constructed along the Texas coast, Port Isabel is the only one open to the public.

For fees and hours, visit the Texas Parks' webpage about the Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historical Site . If you wish to tour the lighthouse and keeper's cottage, there is a fee. To search for the letterbox, there is no fee required as the grounds are open to the public.

Directions:
From Houston: travel on US 59 South for about 115 miles where you will pick up US 77 South. Travel about 210 miles till you reach Texas Hwy 100 and head east for 25 miles. From San Antonio, travel I-37 South for about 125 miles where you will pick up US 77 South. Travel 135 miles till you reach Texas Hwy 100 and head east for 25 miles.
Map:
Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historical Site is located in downtown Port Isabel at
421 East Queen Isabella Blvd (Hwy 100)
Port Isabel TX 78578
Clues:
Be discreet in your search as the park is basically a city block in downtown Port Isabel.
Start from the large blue sign labeled "A View from the Top" located on the east side of the lighthouse. From the sign, walk 33 steps at 1 degree to a tree. From the east side of the tree, walk for 12 steps at 60 degrees to the corner. From here, walk for 23 steps at 160 degrees. Next turn to 255 degrees and walk 5 paces. Look under the walkway to your left and you will find the letterbox behind the support block. Please replace the letterbox out of sight.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Log your find at AtlasQuest
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTE: Before you begin letterboxing, please read and agree to the following waiver of responsibility and disclaimer.

Also always take adequate precautions (such as checking with a stick and/or wearing gloves) before reaching into dark crevasses and holes in the wild.

Return to Birds of a Feather's Home Page

Last updated on 11/26/2007

birdsofafeather.batcave.net/PortIsabel.html