(Photo courtesy of Brazoria County Historical Museum)

Brazos River Light
Velasco, Texas

In 1893, the Light-House Board requested $40,000 to erect a lighthouse and $10,000 for jetty markers and a fog signal.  A condemnation suit was filed in October, 1894 against Texas Land and Immigration Co.  The case, tried in March of 1895 resulted in the U. S. Government receiving title to 2.59 acres, with the various defendants being paid a total of $2,000.

On this site, a square, iron skeleton tower was built.  Construction began in 1895 and the tower was first lit on May 30, 1896.  The tower was the same type as others built in Louisiana and Florida.

The lens was a third-and-a-half order revolving lens which was 99 feet above sea level. It was a 35,000 candle power oil lamp, which flashed every five seconds and was visible 15 miles at sea. In 1938 the light was changed to electric power, having 190,000 candle power. It was raised to 2,000,000 candle power in 1963.

On March 7, 1967, the property was conveyed to Dow Chemical Company, who dismantled the light tower. The lantern room, 16 feet high and 12 feet in diameter, is on display in front of the Brazoria County Historical Museum in Angleton, Texas. The lens is located inside the museum.

Photo of light in 1909
Lantern room being dismantled
Lantern room in front of museum
Lens located in museum

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