Many lighthouses across the United States are considered historic landmarks. One such lighthouse, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is the Mississippi Round Island Lighthouse. This historic landmark was originally located on Round Island, which is in Mississippi Sound, off of the coast of Pascagoula, Mississippi. However, the lighthouse, which was destroyed in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina, has been relocated to land to undergo a restoration. Its new location is at the base of the Highway 90 bridge in Pascagoula.
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The Mississippi Round Island Lighthouse has a long and storied history. The lighthouse was originally contracted to be built by Noah Porter for $4,300, but that contract was voided when Porter accepted a better paying job. Eventually Marshall Lincoln, of Plymouth, Massachusetts, was retained to build the lighthouse, and it was completed in 1833 at a cost of $5,895.
Unfortunately the soft, sandy soil of the island could not support the weight. The records are not clear if the lighthouse toppled, or was torn down. It was rebuilt in 1859 to a height of 44 feet with a Fresnel lens, which gave it visibility of up to 14 nautical miles. The lighthouse was in active service until 1949.
