The Lightstation is open Monday to Saturday from 9:00am - 5:00pm. CLOSED ON SUNDAY.
The Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation
The restoration of the Elbow Reef Lighthouse 2022 - 2023 is an historic event made possible because of the incredible collaborative relationship with the United States Embassy Nassau.
In 2021, in ,The Elbow Reef Foundation (ERF)—a U.S. 501(c)(3) and the joint applicant of Abaco's Elbow Reef Lighthouse Society (ERLS), were chosen to receive a restoration grant through the U.S. State Department's prestigious Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation.
Master Plan
In August 2022, we began work on the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Grant through the U.S. Embassy Nassau. This post Hurricane-Dorian restoration project will see four significant restoration projects through to completion
Project #1 Lantern & Metalworks
Inside: Vents/vent grates, floor grates, staircase & door handles.
Outside: Weathervane, canopy, gutters, astragals, walking grates, Lantern walls, hand railings, install gutter pipes and water buckets.
Project #2 Strip and Repaint Tower
Lighthouse: Strip off all layers of paint with a non-chemical sand/vapor abrasive blasting technique. Fix all masonry faults, then pressure wash. Prime with paint and pressure wash with fresh water before applying new paint.
Project #3 Slate Floor Replacement
The slate floors will be replaced one section at a time with new slate sections. The supporting I-beams corroded due to salt and moisture exposure
over time, causing the slate to become uneven and crack.
Project #4 Operational System
Repairs to kerosene storage tanks and distribution system. Align the gear weights inside the interior column and clean inside weights tube. Assess lens support system. Lens/glass prisms to be assessed by expert for potential repairs. Soot and ventilation stack cleaning.
December 7, 2023 Grand Reopening
The grand reopening and ribbon cutting ceremony was held on December 7, 2023. The United States and The Bahamas have long enjoyed a mutually beneficial partnership. The ties between our nations have never been stronger. We thank the U.S. Embassy Nassau for helping us towards the full restoration of the lighthouse.
