Elbow Reef Lighthouse
About This Museum
Folks make the trip out to Hope Town, often by a bumpy boat ride, for one reason above all else: to see 'Old Stripey.' That's our beloved candy-striped lighthouse, a stubborn relic that's been guiding marines since kerosene lamps. Climbing the 101 steps of its historic spiral staircase rewards you with a breathtaking view of the turquoise sea and the tidy little harbor below. You can almost hear the echoes of the lighthouse keepers from a century past. It’s not just a visit; it’s a step back into the heart of Bahamian maritime history.
Collection Highlights
The original, massive Fresnel lens assembly is the star of the show, a beautiful and complex piece of glass and brass engineering. You'll also find old logbooks, photographs of past keepers, and the clockwork mechanism they'd wind by hand every few hours.
Visitor Information
It's still a working lighthouse, so you'll want to check opening times before you come. Be prepared for a climb—those stairs are narrow and steep, but oh so worth it.
Architecture & Building
It's a classic red-and-white striped masonry tower, one of the last few manual kerosene lighthouses in the entire world.
