Georgetown Lighthouse, Colonial lighthouse in Georgetown, Guyana
Georgetown Lighthouse is an octagonal stone tower painted with red and white vertical stripes, rising 31 meters above Water Street on the waterfront. The structure tapers toward the top where a steel balcony allows views in all directions.
A wooden lighthouse originally stood on this site in 1817 during Dutch colonial times, guiding ships entering the river. British engineers replaced it with the current brick structure in 1830, which continues to guide vessels today.
The lighthouse marks Georgetown's connection to the sea and the ships that have arrived here for centuries to trade and do business. Visitors can sense how important this spot remains to the city's waterfront life and its maritime traditions.
Climbing to the top requires 138 steps and takes some physical effort, so visitors should be prepared for a moderate workout. The reward is a wide view over the city center and the river from the steel balcony above.
The foundation rests on forty-nine wooden piles made from greenheart, a local hardwood that resists decay and has kept the tower stable for over 200 years. The light signals alternate between red and white every 60 seconds in a pattern that has remained unchanged since British times.
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