Rebecca Shoal Light

The Rebecca Shoal Light was an important lighthouse. It stood on a dangerous spot called Rebecca Shoal. This area was made of coral. It was about 6.2 miles west of the Marquesas Keys and 31 miles east of the Dry Tortugas.

Because the spot was tricky, the lighthouse helped ships. It guided them safely through the area. This stopped ships from crashing into the hidden coral.

Overview and history

The Rebecca Shoal is a tricky area with strong currents and rough seas. In 1854, people tried to build a lighthouse there, but the early buildings washed away. Finally, in 1886, a small lighthouse was built on tall supports. It survived many big storms, including a major hurricane in 1919 that broke its windows. The lighthouse stopped needing people to watch it in 1926 and was torn down in 1953. A new, simpler tower was built, but it was destroyed by a hurricane in 2004.

Timeline of Keepers

The Rebecca Shoal Light had many keepers over the years. Mark Gaze was the first keeper from 1886 to 1888. James Gardner served until 1889, followed by Francis McNulty until 1890. Many others took care of the light, including Robert J. Fine, John Watkins, and William R. Cook. The list continues with keepers like Charles H. Gardner, James R. Walker, and Alfred A. Berghell, among others, up until Alonzo Baker in 1925.