Baron Bliss Lighthouse is a
lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid, for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways.
Lighthouses mar ...
in
Belize City
Belize City is the largest city in Belize and was once the capital of the former British Honduras. According to the 2010 census, Belize City has a population of 57,169 people in 16,162 households. It is at the mouth of the Haulover Creek, wh ...
. Established in 1885 on the former site of a Spanish fortress which was extremely damaged after the
Battle of St. George's Caye
The Battle of St. George's Caye was a military engagement that lasted from 3 to 10 September 1798, off the coast of British Honduras (present-day Belize). However, the name is typically reserved for the final battle that occurred on 10 Septemb ...
in September 1798, it has a focal plane of 16 m (52 ft) and is painted white and red. It is named after one of Belize's greatest benefactors,
Baron Bliss
Henry Edward Ernest Victor Bliss, 4th Baron Bliss, commonly known as Baron Bliss (16 February 1869 – 9 March 1926), was a British-born traveller who willed nearly two million Belize dollars to a trust fund for the benefit of the citizens of w ...
, who is known to have never actually set foot on Belizean shores but was impressed with the people's warm hospitality.
He was a sailor and fisherman who traveled the world aboard his yacht the "Sea King". On March 9, 1926, Baron Bliss died leaving instructions that he be buried in a granite tomb near the sea, enclosed with an iron fence with a lighthouse built nearby. This is why this monument was constructed (in remembrance of him) and also at the location where it stands today.
Uses of the lighthouse
The lighthouse, among its main purpose of serving as a traffic warning for boats travelling nearby, has also been used for advertisement purposes as well. It is featured on one of Belikin's most popular alcoholic beverage name
"The Lighthouse lager" This in return has placed the lighthouse image on billboards, coasters, cups, mugs and other promotional items around the country of Belize. It is also a major tourist attraction in Belize when it comes to sight seeing and it was listed at #20 of top 53 things to do in Belize on tripadvisor website.
See also
*
List of lighthouses in Belize
References
External links
Belize Port Authority* Belize Brewing Company, 2015. Belikin Beer the Beer of Belize, History. Retrieved fro
* TripAdvisor, 2016.Top things to do in Belize, Retrieved fro
* Respect, Baron Bliss". Amandala. 9 March 2003. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
* "A real Belize benefactor/lover - Baron Bliss". Krem Radio. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2014
Lighthouses completed in 1885
Lighthouses in Belize
Buildings and structures in Belize City
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