Cat Island Light

The 1831 tower (USCG)

The first lighthouse at this location was erected in 1831, following an appropriation in 1827.[1] Construction was delayed by the need to survey and acquire land. The contract was given to Winslow Lewis, who also constructed the Pass Christian Light under the same contract.[3] Lewis subcontracted construction of the Cat Island tower to Lazarus Baukens, who erected a conical brick tower to the same design as that used for the Pass Christian Light.[1] An 1854 inspection, however, revealed that the structure was set directly on the sand, with no foundation whatsoever.[3] It was provided with the lamp and reflector arrangement typical of such early lights. This was replaced in 1857 with a Fresnel lens, and in 1859 a new lantern was constructed.[3]

The tower was constantly threatened by erosion, and in 1856 funds were appropriated to move it; however, nothing ever came of this.[3] This followed the destruction of the original keeper's house in the 1855 hurricane.[3] The tower was damaged in a hurricane in 1860[3] and burned by the Confederates during the Civil War.[1] After the war, the lantern was taken to be used for the Tchefuncte River Range Rear Light,[4] and in 1872 the bricks were removed to be used as riprap to shore up the failing St. Joseph Island Light.[3]

The previous year, a new lighthouse was erected, a square screw-pile structure.[1] Erosion and storms continued to be problems, and in 1900 riprap was piled around the piles to stabilize it.[3] In 1937 the light was discontinued due to decreasing traffic through the area.[3] The house stood abandoned and eventually burned in 1961.[3] The iron foundation continues to stand and appears as a hazard on NOAA charts.[5] It is also a local fishing spot, known affectionately as The Bird Cage.