Choctaw Point Light
Lighthouse
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The Choctaw Point Light was a lighthouse located just south of Mobile, Alabama on the west shore of Mobile Bay.
 | |
| Location | Choctaw Point south of Mobile, Alabama |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 30°40′N 87°59′W |
| Tower | |
| Construction | brick |
| Height | 43 feet (13 m) |
| Shape | conical tower |
| Light | |
| First lit | 1831 |
| Deactivated | 1862 |
| Focal height | 63 feet (19 m)[1] |
History
Mobile Bay is quite shallow, and dredging began in 1826 using a machine developed by John Grant, a sea captain in the area.[2] The channel opened the city up to greater traffic and in 1831 a brick tower was constructed on Choctaw Point, which projected from the west shore somewhat south of town.[3] It was considered poorly sited by pilots due to its lack of alignment with the channels.[1]
The beacon was extinguished at the outset of the Civil War and was never relit.[3] The site was used for a buoy depot and railroad wharves; today it is occupied by a container shipping terminal, and no trace of the light remains.[3][4]