Southwest Reef Light
Berwick, Louisiana
Southwest Reef Light
Berwick, Louisiana
The lighthouse was established on September 1, 1859. It had a fourth order Fresnel lens, 49 feet above sea level. The lighthouse, colored dark red, is a square pyramid, fully enclosed in iron boiler plate. It was one of only two, built on this design.When a new channel was cut through the shoal just before World War I, the light was no longer effective. It was replaced by the Point Au Fer Reef Lighthouse on March 30, 1916. It sat idle until the 1980's, when it was moved ashore.
The lighthouse is now owned by the town of Berwick, Louisiana. It is located on the bank of the Atchafalaya River, in a park. The park is located about 3 blocks north of U S Highway 90.
It does not appear to have suffered any damage from either Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita.
GPS 29.41.658N
091.12.990W
