Question: What is the only lighthouse in Texas that’s open to the public?
Answer: The Port Isabel Lighthouse. Built by the U.S. government in 1853 across the bay from South Padre Island, the lighthouse was damaged during the Civil War before being returned to operation in 1866. A decline in commercial shipping led to its closure in 1905.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department acquired the lighthouse in 1950 and soon after designated it a state historical site. It can be visited daily for $5 or less. Reaching the top of the 72-foot lighthouse requires climbing 75 winding stairs and three short ladders.
