Cardona Island Light facts for kids
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 Cardona Island Lighthouse
Location in Puerto Rico
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| Location | Ponce, Puerto Rico |
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| Coordinates | 17°57′24.48″N 66°38′6″W / 17.9568000°N 66.63500°W |
| Year first lit | 1889 |
| Automated | 1962 |
| Foundation | stone base |
| Construction | stone and brick tower |
| Tower shape | cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern atop the keeper's house |
| Markings / pattern | white tower, black lantern |
| Original lens | Sixth order (1889) |
| ARLHS number | PUR 009 |
The Cardona Island Light (also known as Faro del Puerto de Ponce or Cayo Cardona Light) is a special lighthouse in Puerto Rico. It's the only one of its kind with a round tower attached to the main building. This lighthouse stands on Isla Cardona, a small island at the entrance to the harbor of Ponce, Puerto Rico.
This historic lighthouse was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on October 22, 1981. This means it's recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
Where is the Lighthouse?
The Cardona Island Light is located on a small island, about 6 acres in size, just west of the Ponce Harbor. It acts as a guide for ships entering the Port of Ponce. Think of it as a helpful signpost for boats!
This lighthouse works with other lighthouses like Guánica Light, Los Morrillos Light, and Caja de Muertos Light to create a system that helps ships navigate safely along the coast.
You can't visit the island itself because it's only reachable by private boat. However, you can get a good view of the lighthouse from the observation tower at the La Guancha boardwalk in Ponce.
The Cardona Island Light first shone its beam in 1889. It was updated in 1962 to work automatically, meaning it didn't need a person to operate it all the time. During World War II in 1942, its use was stopped for a short time, but it was turned back on in November 1943. Today, it's still an active and important guide for ships.
Why is it Important?
The Cardona Island Light, along with the Guánica Light, was very important for guiding ships into the Port of Ponce. This port was a busy place, especially in the last century, exporting huge amounts of sugar to places like the United States. The lighthouse helped make sure these valuable shipments arrived and departed safely.
From an architectural point of view, the Cardona Island Light is unique. It's the only lighthouse of its "6th order" (a way to classify the size and power of the light) that has a cylindrical tower attached to the keeper's house. Plus, many of its original parts, like the brick roof and wooden beams, are still in great condition!
What Does it Look Like?
The Cardona Island Lighthouse was built using strong stone and brick. It was designed for one lighthouse keeper to live and work there. When it was built in 1889, it used a "6th order" red light to guide ships into the Port of Ponce. This type of light used a special Fresnel lens to make the light beam strong and clear.
The lighthouse has a simple, yet charming, neo-classic design. It looks similar to other smaller lighthouses built around the same time on the south and southeast shores of Puerto Rico, like Punta Figuras Light, Punta Mulas Light, and Puerto Ferro Light.
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The building where the lighthouse keeper lived was made of stone and brick. A round tower, about 10 meters (33 feet) tall, was attached to the south side of the building. The whole structure is about 48 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 16 feet high.
Inside the tower, a cast-iron stairway leads up to the lantern room. This room, where the light shines from, is octagonal (eight-sided) and made of glass, copper, and cast-iron. There's also a cast-iron railing around an outside cement walkway.
The original light system, which is still used today, was made in 1888 by a French company called Sautter, Lemonnier & Company. It's a "6th order" red lens, about 30 centimeters (12 inches) in diameter. This lens has several panels and prisms that help focus the light. It was held in place by a cast-iron stand. The original light was made red by using a red chimney. While the light's features were changed a bit in 1922 and 1938, it was electrified in 1962, meaning it no longer needed a person to keep it lit.
Images for kids
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Cardona Island Light
