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On your next booking with Casago Bolivar Vacations
On your next booking with Casago Bolivar Vacations
Discover the story of this iconic 116-foot beacon that has guided ships since 1872
The Point Bolivar Lighthouse has stood at the entrance to Galveston Bay since 1872, and it is one of the most recognizable landmarks on the peninsula. Standing 116 feet tall and painted in black and white stripes, it has survived hurricanes, a wartime accident, and more than a century of coastal weather.
Here is the story behind it and what you can actually see when you visit today.
The first lighthouse at this location was built in 1852. During the Civil War, Confederate forces dismantled it so Union ships could not use it to navigate. The tower that stands today was built afterward, commissioned by Congress in 1872 to guide ships through Galveston Bay.
Standing 116 feet tall, the tower is made of brick sheathed in riveted cast-iron plates, anchored to a concrete foundation. Its third-order Fresnel lens could be seen for miles out at sea. That original lens is now on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
The lighthouse withstood the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, and sheltered 125 people who found safety inside its walls. Fifteen years later, in the hurricane of 1915, it survived winds that reached 126 miles per hour, and its light dimmed for only two days after its oil supply floated away in the storm.
From 1872 until its retirement, the lighthouse shined nearly every night of its 60 years of service. It was retired from active duty on May 29, 1933.
In 1947, the property was sold to rancher Elmer V. Boyt and his sister, Ila Maxwell. It has remained in their family ever since.
The Point Bolivar Lighthouse is privately owned, and it is not currently open for interior tours. Restoration has been ongoing since the Bolivar Point Lighthouse Foundation was established in 2015 by Mark Boyt and Michael Maxwell, descendants of the lighthouse’s original private owners.
Recent restoration work has stabilized the structure, restored the cast-iron entry door, and repainted the exterior. The tower now shows its original black and white stripes for the first time in more than 75 years. The foundation’s long-term goal is to eventually open the lighthouse for public tours.
For now, the best way to see it is from the road. The tower is visible from Highway 87 near the ferry landing, and you can pull off along the roadside for a clear view without disturbing the private property.
The lighthouse sits near the Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry landing, so it is one of the first things you see after crossing. From the ferry, continue briefly on Highway 87 and you will spot the tower on your right.
It also sits next to the Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary and Fort Travis Seashore Park, so many visitors combine a stop at the lighthouse with a walk through the sanctuary or a visit to the park.
The Bolivar Point Lighthouse Foundation occasionally hosts open house events on the lighthouse grounds, where visitors can see the restoration progress up close. These are announced on the foundation’s website and are worth checking before your trip if you want a closer look.
Casago Bolivar Vacations manages vacation homes across Crystal Beach, Gilchrist, and Port Bolivar, several just minutes from the lighthouse and ferry landing.
Can you go inside the Point Bolivar Lighthouse?
Not currently. The lighthouse is privately owned and undergoing restoration, so interior tours are not available. The Bolivar Point Lighthouse Foundation occasionally hosts open house events on the grounds, and its long-term goal is to eventually open the tower for public tours.
How old is the Point Bolivar Lighthouse?
The current tower was built in 1872, making it more than 150 years old. An earlier lighthouse stood at the same site starting in 1852 but was dismantled during the Civil War.
Where is the best place to view the Point Bolivar Lighthouse?
The clearest view is from Highway 87 near the Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry landing, where you can pull off along the roadside. The lighthouse is also visible from the nearby Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary and Fort Travis Seashore Park.
Did people shelter in the lighthouse during hurricanes?
Yes. During the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, the lighthouse sheltered 125 people who survived the storm inside its walls. In 1915, it withstood another hurricane with winds reaching 126 miles per hour, and its light dimmed for only two days afterward.
Is the Point Bolivar Lighthouse still used for navigation?
No. It was retired from active service on May 29, 1933, after 60 years of guiding ships into Galveston Bay. Its original Fresnel lens is now part of a maritime exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
On your next booking with Casago Bolivar Vacations
On your next booking with Casago Bolivar Vacations