This beautiful lighthouse is the main focal point in the harbor of Hopetown, on Elbow Cay in the Abacos. I took pictures from all angles, inside and out, during our anniversary trip in October of 1997. Left: View from the boat as we entered the harbor Right: View from across the harbor as we explored the town Can you tell this light is one of my favorites? I took a lot of pictures of it since we saw it every day as we went by Elbow Cay on our way to our daily adventures (see my 1997 Bahamas page or my 2002 Bahamas pages for all the details). This light is the oldest kerosene powered light in the world and two others can be found in the Abacos at San Salvador and Great Inagua. An article in the Summer/Fall 1998 Abaco Life magazine explained in depth about the workings of this light. The four-ton apparatus sits in a tub of mercury which makes it extremely easy to turn. We had a chance to turn the light with a touch of our finger while at the top. The light is kept in motion by "the descending pull of seven hundred pounds of weights" which the keepers must hand crank every two hours. The two keepers, Edmund Walkes and Jeffrey Forbes, think that it's very important to keep this light preserved in its "authentic, kerosene-burning, hand-wound state". The two men work in 6 hour shifts at night, one pulling down the curtains that surround the Fresnel lens during the day and lighting the lamp, then keeping watch until 1:00 AM. The next man comes on duty then and keeps watch until dawn at which time he extinquishes the light and pulls the curtains around the lens once again. These curtains keep the sun from shining thru the glass which would cause fires to light in the town. You can see me (above right), resting before climbing the 101 steps up that pretty tower. My husband Darrell (below left) waved at me from above as he walked up the steps - see the pink walls and green stairs? Quite colorful. I couldn't resist one more shot from the water (below right). This was such a scenic light in a wonderful setting. Although it's common now to preserve lighthouses, that wasn't always the case as you'll see in this article about the Bahamas Lighthouse Preservation society and their efforts since 1996 to preserve the last three hand-wound kerosene-burning Bahamian lighthouses. According to the What's On Guide, "Those interested in the BLPS are invited to share ideas, volunteer services, donations and membership checks which will help to keep these symbols of our national maritime heritage turning smoothly and proudly. Checks made out to the Bahamas Lighthouse Preservation Society can be mailed (BLPS, General Delivery, Hope Town, Abaco, Bahamas), or accepted at Lighthouse Marina, Vernon's Store, Harbour View Grocery and Island Marine, all in Hope Town."