At long last the assessment of the Sand Island lighthouse has begun. As we reported back in April, engineers will be looking over the lighthouse to assess it for structural integrity and to determine what it will take to refurbish the structure.
The Sand Island Lighthouse stands on a small islet built of rocks and sand out in the Gulf of Mexico. It can be seen from Dauphin Island on the horizon to the south and east.
Engineers study 135-year-old lighthouse near Dauphin Island
A worker rappelled down the side of Sand Island Lighthouse Tuesday as part of a study to preserve the 135-year-old lighthouse and possibly turn it into a tourist attraction.
The rappelling is part of a $62,500 study to determine what's causing the cracks in the lighthouse's brick work. The lighthouse, four miles southeast of Dauphin Island, is on a small island, but is now mostly surrounded by ocean as most of the island's land has eroded away.
The Alabama Lighthouse Association hopes to repair the damage and prevent further deterioration.
A $50,000 U.S. Department of Transportation grant and $12,500 raised by the Alabama Lighthouse Association are being used to fund the study. The association estimates it will cost $2 million to restore the lighthouse.
The National Park Service allowed the town of Dauphin Island to take possession of the lighthouse in 2003. Dauphin Island has partnered with the association, responsible for the restoration and maintenance of the tower.