You can definitely see the loss of the island in the two photos above.
The new island is about 14 acres and already covered with shells and hundreds of seabirds
The lighthouse, the current one built to replace the destroyed one from the Civil War, is in bad shape. "The thin, flat bricks are pitted and weathered from a century of exposure, with deep recesses between bricks where he mortar has worn away." The mortar was made with local sand and mixed with seawater which led to a very inferior mortar."
Engineering studies show the lighthouse is basically sound, but here is no access to the top or even the lower windows. A lot of work has been done to stabilize the base.
The loss of the island was due to "the dredging of the Mobile Ship Channel which interrupted the natural sand delivery system that fed he island." At one time the island was hundreds of acres and big enough that he light keeper had a herd of cows.
As it stands now, the island will remain for some time, but will eventually wash away without continual replacement.
Dauphin Island took ownership of the lighthouse from the Department of the Interior ten years ago and there was talk of moving it ashore to protect it.
A Look Back to the Civil War Lighthouse Next. --Old B-Runner
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