Elbow Reef Lighthouse

The Elbow Reef light was built in the 1860s over local objection, since the reef wrecks had been a source of salvage income, and it has been kept in its original condition ever since: a kerosene burner, a hand-wound clockwork mechanism that the keeper rewinds every couple of hours through the night, and a Fresnel lens floating on mercury. It is one of only three manually operated lighthouses left in the world. The red-and-white stripes make it the emblem of Abaco.

What to look for

• The kerosene burner - the original lamp, still lit rather than electrified.
• The hand-wound mechanism - clockwork the keeper rewinds through the night.
• The climb - a spiral stair to the gallery, with the harbour below.
• The stripes - the red-and-white tower, the emblem of the Abacos.

When to go

November to April is the dry season. The light is climbed during daylight and access depends on the keeper being there. Hurricane Dorian in 2019 devastated Elbow Cay and the recovery continues.

Things to know

The climb is up a narrow spiral stair at your own risk and the gallery rail is low. Access is not guaranteed on any given day. Hope Town was very badly damaged in 2019 and the settlement is still rebuilding.

Nearby

Hope Town settlement is around the harbour, and Man-O-War Cay is north.

Key facts