Cape Martin Lighthouse

Transcription

When Katrina came through, it pretty much devastated the entire lighthouse. The electrical system was destroyed, the interior brick lining was damaged and big pieces of it were missing. The door, doorframe were gone, window was gone. We pretty much had to rebuild the first 30 feet of the lighthouse. So we ended up, we painted the entire structure, which is cast iron. Replaced the brick interior. Replaced all new electrical. So today, it looks the way it did the day before Katina. It is back to its original grandeur. The project cost $415,000. The funding sources were FEMA and insurance, with the majority of the funding coming from FEMA. This is a historic preservation project and without FEMA’s funding and actually FEMA’s expertise in the area of historic preservation, I don’t think we would have been able to accomplish this project. It was the latest lighthouse series from the US Postal Service. And, we actually have the first day cancellation for all five stamps along the Gulf Coast here in Biloxi. So we got over Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, we were chosen to host that event. And also, it represents the state on the state license plates this year. You know, it is a sign from not only Biloxi and the Gulf Coast, it’s a sign for the whole state. It is a major landmark for this community. It is an aid to navigation. It shows the folks the way to go. But also think about it, it’s in the middle of a highway, it’s also showing the cars the way to Biloxi. You know, you come off the interstate; it’s one of the first things you see as you make the loop. So it’s a sign that we’re here. It is a sign that the coast has come back or the coast is coming back.