Halfmoon Reef Lighthouse

Halfmoon Reef Lighthouse is a wooden hexagonal structure built on seven iron piles near Port Lavaca. The building features a distinctive red glass cupola that marked the bay entrance for passing ships.

The lighthouse was built in 1858 on Halfmoon Reef to guide ships entering the bay. It ceased operations during the Civil War but returned to service in 1868.

The lighthouse served as a home for keeper families who lived and worked here together, shaping the rhythm of life in this isolated maritime outpost. Residents developed routines around the daily tasks of maintaining the beacon and watching over the bay.

The lighthouse stands at the corner of Broadway Street and Highway 35 in Port Lavaca, right next to Bauer Community Center. Visitors can easily access the structure from the street and explore the surrounding area.

The structure survived the devastating 1875 hurricane that destroyed two similar lighthouses nearby. It remains the last screwpile lighthouse standing in Texas.

Location: Calhoun County

GPS coordinates: 28.63690,-96.61730

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:04