Overview:

Great Bird Island Lighthouse is located off the east coast of Antigua, near Willoughby Bay. It is one of the most prominent lighthouses in the Caribbean, with its distinctive red-and-white vertical stripes. The lighthouse was erected in 1898 in response to the increase of maritime traffic due to the advent of steam navigation. It was maintained and operated by the Lucea lighthouse service until 1978. Today, a convenience store, a beacon and solar panels provide electricity to the island. The lighthouse's light sweep, a stream of white and red light, can be seen up to 16 nautical miles away. As an important landmark, the light serves as a reference point for navigation in and around Antigua, Barbuda and Redonda. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Antigua-and-Barbuda
Prominent Features:

The Great Bird Island Lighthouse is a prominent feature of Antigua and Barbuda in the Eastern Caribbean Sea. The lighthouse is located just off the coast of Antigua on the tiny island of Great Bird. It was first established in 1853, and it is a tall imposing structure that can be seen from far out at sea. The beacon itself was powered by a kerosene-based lamp, which was replaced in 1921 with an electric beacon. The Great Bird Island Lighthouse stands a majestic 25 meters tall and serves as a navigational aid for ships entering the St. John’s Port. With its eye-catching red and white stripes, the lighthouse also serves as a tourist attraction, allowing visitors to get unique views of the Caribbean Sea and the surrounding islands. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Antigua-and-Barbuda.

History:

The first recorded lighthouse at Great Bird Island in the Antigua-and-Barbuda archipelago dates back to 1826. This was a fog bell set up, this was later replaced by a tower style lighthouse built in 1865. This lighthouse consisted of a stone and brick tower with the height of 30 feet and an 11 feet diameter base. The tower featured a lantern observed 88 foot above sea level and the lighthouse was powered by kerosene fueled lamps. The Great Bird Island Lighthouse was rebuilt in 1912 with a concrete tower, it stands 38 feet tall and has an 11 feet diameter base. This lighthouse was automated in 1986 and an 8-foot beacon-tower was added to the top of the lighthouse to increase its visibility. The lighthouse is still active to this day and is maintained by the Antigua Port Authority. The lighthouse has a 300,000 candlepower beacon which flashes every ten seconds. The light can be seen up to 14 miles away and it helps guide vessels to and from the island. Visit one of the famous monuments of Antigua-and-Barbuda with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Great Bird Island Lighthouse is located in Antigua-and-Barbuda, a small island in the Caribbean Sea. 2. It serves as a navigational aid and overlooks the nearby islands of Bird, Redonda and Montserrat. 3. It was built in 1867 and has a light that can be seen for up to seven nautical miles. 4. The lighthouse was almost destroyed by a hurricane in 1895 and other storms have severely damaged and weakened it in the past. 5. In 1953, the British government decided to automate Great Bird Island Lighthouse and removed the tower keeper and lighthouse keeper’s equipment. 6. It is now monitored remotely and the light has been converted to an LED system. 7. Great Bird Island is also home to an impressive variety of wildlife, such as stingrays, parrots, frigate birds, and various tropical fish. 8. The lighthouse is a popular tourist attraction and is one of the few surviving lighthouses in the Caribbean. 9. It is listed on the national registry of historic places in Antigua-and-Barbuda. 10. In 2016, Great Bird Island Lighthouse was completely restored, thanks in large part to donations from local Antiguans and volunteers from around the world. One of the historical monuments of Antigua-and-Barbuda, it tells the story of a bygone era