Punta de las Figuras Light

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Punta de las Figuras Lighthouse
Faro Punta Figuras (Arecibo, Puerto Rico).jpg
Faro Punta de Las Figuras, c.1898
Punta de las Figuras Light
Location Arroyo, Puerto Rico
Coordinates 17°57′17.92″N66°2′51.56″W / 17.9549778°N 66.0476556°W / 17.9549778; -66.0476556
Tower
ConstructionBrick and stone
Height15 m (49 ft)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
ShapeOctagonal tower on dwelling
MarkingsWhite with w/o lantern
HeritageNational Register of Historic Places listed place  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Light
First lit1893
Deactivated1938
LensFifth order Fresnel 1893 [1]
Faro de Punta de las Figuras
Built1893
Architectural style Neoclassic
Restored2003
MPS Lighthouse System of Puerto Rico TR
NRHP reference No. 81000687
Added to NRHPOctober 22, 1981

Punta de las Figuras Light (Spanish : Faro Punta de las Figuras) is an historic lighthouse located in Arroyo, Puerto Rico. It was first lit by the Spanish government in 1893. [2] The light was relocated in 1938, and the structure was deactivated and abandoned. During World War II, the lighthouse was used as a lookout. After the U.S. Army abandoned the structure in 1963, the lighthouse was repeatedly vandalized. In 1969 the lens and lantern were destroyed. [3] The lighthouse was again damaged by Hurricane Maria on September 20, 2017. The light housing is broken, all of the windows are boarded up, and several of the surrounding light pole fixtures are downed. The interior is currently inaccessible.

Contents

The lighthouse was listed to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1981, [4] and to the Puerto Rico Register of Historic Sites and Zones in 2001. [5] In 2003, the Puerto Rican government rehabilitated it at a cost of two million dollars. The lighthouse is located at the entrance of the Balneario Punta Guilarte beach resort managed by the Puerto Rico National Parks Company. [3]

See also

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References

  1. "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: Puerto Rico". United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on 2017-05-01. Retrieved March 26, 2009.
  2. "Inventory of Historic Light Stations. National Park Service". Archived from the original on January 16, 2009. Retrieved March 26, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. 1 2 Compañía de Parques Nacionales de Puerto Rico (July 2003), "Restaura Faro de Punta Figuras" [Restoring the Punta Figuras Lighthouse](PDF), En Tu Ambiente (newsletter) (in Spanish), archived from the original on October 18, 2007, retrieved March 26, 2009{{citation}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link).
  4. "Department of the Interior, National Park Service: National Register of Historic Places; Annual Listing of Historic Properties", 47 FR 4932 (February 2, 1982), at 4951.
  5. GOBIERNO DE PUERTO RICO, JUNTA DE PLANIFICACIÓN DE PUERTO RICO (December 7, 2022). "REGISTRO DE PROPIEDADES DESIGNADAS POR LA JUNTA DE PLANIFICACIÓN DE PUERTO RICO" (PDF). jp.pr.gov.