Local and state leaders gathered on Nov. 15 to visit one of the Texas coast’s most storied maritime landmarks, the Aransas Pass Light Station, a beacon that has guided mariners since the mid-19th century and remains a powerful symbol of the region’s nautical heritage.
The delegation included State Rep. Todd Hunter, Aransas County Judge Ray Garza, County Commissioner Pat Rousseau, and Navigation District representative Josh Nguyen. They were joined by Doreen Bronner, chairperson of the Aransas County Historical Commission, who helped coordinate the visit. Capt. Tommy Moore piloted the boat that carried the group to the site on Harbor Island.
Once ashore, dignitaries viewed the historic marker describing the origins and evolution of the lighthouse. Federal officials first recognized the need for a navigational aid at Aransas Pass in the early 1850s. Construction began in 1855, culminating in a keeper’s dwelling built of cypress and a distinctive 68-foot octagonal brick tower topped by a birdcage-style lantern…