Punta Higüero Light (

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

: ''Faro de Punta Higüero'') is a historic lighthouse located in the

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

of Rincón on the westernmost point, known as ''Punta Higüero,'' in the main island of

Puerto Rico ; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...

. The original building was built in 1892 by the

government and was rebuilt in 1922 by the

United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and Admiralty law, law enforcement military branch, service branch of the armed forces of the United States. It is one of the country's eight Uniformed services ...

. In 1892 the original light was built as a fixed white, 6th order dioptric station and had a light beam. According to the

Historic American Engineering Record Heritage Documentation Programs (HDP) is a division of the U.S. National Park Service (NPS). It administers three programs established to document historic places in the United States: Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), Historic American E ...

, "Its

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...

appearance came from an elaborate combination of exposed and indented brick work in the facades—around doors and windows—and corners." The "castle" look was further emphasized by reddish

stucco Stucco or render is a construction material made of aggregates, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as a decorative coating for walls and ceilings, exterior walls, and as a sculptural and ...

imitating stone-work on all facades and the very elaborate exposed brick cornice topped by a parapet built in lace-like brick-work. The

lighthouse A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lens (optics), lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. Ligh ...

was severely damaged by the 1918 earthquake that struck the west part of the island. The new light was placed in commission on January 12, 1922. The building suffered fire damage after the light was automated in 1933 and was later razed. The town of Rincón built ''El Faro Park'' around the lighthouse, a popular spot for surfing and whale watching.

Gallery

Original Punta Higuera light (Rincon, PR).jpg, Punta Higuero Light, ca 1898 Park next to the Rincon lighthouse, PR - panoramio.jpg, Park next to the Rincón lighthouse

References

External links

* {{Authority control Historic American Engineering Record in Puerto Rico Lighthouses completed in 1892 Lighthouses completed in 1922 Lighthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Puerto Rico 1892 establishments in Puerto Rico Spanish Colonial architecture in Puerto Rico 1922 establishments in Puerto Rico

Gallery

See also

References

External links