The Elbow Reef Lighthouse

The candy stripped lighthouse in Hope Town is probably one of the most photographed lighthouses in the Bahamas. It was built by the British Imperial Lighthouse Service in 1864. It utilizes a large Fresnel lens floating in a bath of mercury and a kerosene mantel light. In other words, it basically operates like a huge Coleman lantern. There are 101 steps to the top where there is a phenomenal view in all directions. It is one of only three remaining lighthouses in the Bahamas that is hand wound by the lighthouse keepers every two hours during the night. The light can be seen for over 15 miles.



Elbow Reef Lighthouse and Keepers Quarters



Some information about the lighthouse

Looking up the staircase.  First bright pink and
green interior we've seen in a lighthouse.

This is the fuel that is used for the light

This is how they get the fuel up to the fuel tanks.
They simply pull it up with a rope

The fuel tanks

Gerry approaching the top

Looking up at the lens (hard to get a good picture as it
was above our heads)



Looking down at Monk's Vineyard (center of picture)



The entrance to the harbor and the Lighthouse Marina

A small inlet off the marina

Way, way across you can just barely make out Marsh Harbor



The mooring field and the main part of Hope Town



Gerry at the top

Looking down as Gerry descends



A shot of the lighthouse looking straight up from the bottom