New Canal Light facts for kids
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| New Basin Canal entrance at Lake Pontchartrain | |
 New Canal Lighthouse
Location in New Orleans
New Canal Lighthouse
Location in Louisiana
New Canal Lighthouse
Location in the United States
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| Location | West End Blvd. and Lakeshore Dr., New Orleans, Louisiana |
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| Coordinates | 30°1′37.6″N 90°6′47.55″W / 30.027111°N 90.1132083°W |
| Year first constructed | 1838 |
| Year first lit | 1890 (last lighthouse) |
| Automated | Yes |
| Foundation | Pile with platform |
| Construction | Wood |
| Tower shape | Square tower on top of house |
| Markings / pattern | White with red roof |
| Focal height | Lighthouse: 49 feet (15 m) Current pole light: 15 feet (4.6 m) |
| Original lens | 5th order Fresnel lens |
| Characteristic | Lighthouse: Occulting White 5s Current pole light: Fl 2 White 5s |
| Fog signal | Previous: Bell, every ten seconds |
| ARLHS number | USA-556 |
| USCG number | 4-9992 |
The New Canal Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse located in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was first built in 1838 at the end of the New Basin Canal. This canal connected Lake Pontchartrain to the city. Even though most of the canal was filled in around 1950, the lighthouse stayed on a small piece of land reaching into the lake. Today, this area is still used for small boats and yachts.
Contents
History of the Lighthouse
The first lighthouse was built in 1838. It had an eight-sided tower made of cypress wood. This tower was about 28 feet (8.5 meters) tall.
Changes Over Time
The first tower started to fall apart. So, in 1855, a new lighthouse was built. This one was a square wooden house sitting on special poles called screw piles. It had an iron lantern and a special Fresnel lens to make the light brighter.
In 1890, the lighthouse was replaced again. The new light was raised to 49 feet (15 meters) high. This 1890 building was rebuilt even more in 1901.
Facing Hurricanes
The lighthouse has been damaged many times by strong storms. Hurricanes hit it in 1903, 1915, 1926, and 1927. After the 1927 storm, the lighthouse was raised onto new concrete supports. In 1936, the area around it was filled with land for the first time.
From the 1960s until 2001, the United States Coast Guard had a station at the lighthouse site.
Damage and Rebuilding
The lighthouse was badly damaged during the 2005 hurricane season. Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita caused its first floor to collapse. The small dome on top, called a cupola, also fell off.
In 2006, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation took over. They signed a lease with the Coast Guard to fix the lighthouse. The building was carefully taken apart and stored. Rebuilding started in February 2012 and was finished in 2013.
A Historic Landmark
The New Canal Lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. This means it is recognized as an important historic site.
Today, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation runs the lighthouse as the New Canal Lighthouse Museum and Education Center. The museum teaches visitors about the lighthouse's history. It also shares information about the environment of the Pontchartrain Basin. You can even see a Fresnel lens that might have been used in the lighthouse long ago.
Gallery
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The 1855 Lighthouse
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The 1890/1901 Lighthouse
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Damage after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita - 2005
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Collapse after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita - 2005
