Culebrita Lighthouse, Spanish colonial lighthouse on Culebrita island, Puerto Rico.
Culebrita Lighthouse is a stone tower built during the Spanish colonial period on the eastern side of Culebrita island. The two-story structure has white walls and features maritime architectural design typical of late 19th-century navigation facilities.
The Spanish Crown built this tower between 1882 and 1886 to assert control over Culebra against competing claims from Britain and Denmark. The construction represented a deliberate effort to solidify Spanish presence in these remote Caribbean waters during a period of shifting imperial power.
This structure represents the last standing Spanish colonial building in the Culebra archipelago and shows how maritime navigation shaped Caribbean settlement patterns. Visitors can observe the remains of infrastructure that once connected these remote islands to the outside world.
Access to the site requires a water taxi from Culebra, which takes about 20 minutes to reach Culebrita island. Visitors should plan visits based on weather and sea conditions, as access can be limited depending on local circumstances.
The original tower stopped operating in 1975 when the Coast Guard installed a solar-powered beacon to replace it. Visitors today can see the weathered effects of decades spent exposed to the elements on this remote island.
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