The only Texas lighthouse open to the public is at the tip of Port Isabel. We stopped for a visit after the laundry was done. Relax and Just Wash is the best laundromat in the area, much cleaner and cheaper than the one on SPI, so we cross the bridge once-a-week for that business.

The US Congress, at the urging of Texan Representatives, authorized the War Department to build this lighthouse in 1851 after the Mexican-American War. The North held it during the Civil War to help blockade the South, but the lighthouse itself was useless as the retreating army had set off charges inside it. After the Civil War, it was repaired and put back into use until a citizen of Brownsville in 1886 correctly claimed he owned it. Turns out the federal government never got title for the land back in 1851. Use was discontinued until a local company in Port Isabel purchased it, and put it back to helping with navigation in 1895. It fell into disrepair until the state got it through a donation in 1950. Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historical Park is now the smallest state park in Texas at one city block in size. There are several websites with information, but lighthousefriends.com seemed to be the most thorough.

After our Lighthouse tour, we ate lunch at Paul and Roxann’s favorite local spot, the Isabel Cafe, with authentic and yummy Mexican food. Paul said he wished he could take this restaurant back to Iowa with him.

Then we played in the water at the beach this afternoon. I got an inexpensive body board from Walmart that I was itching to try in the waves. With temperatures in the mid-to-upper 70s, it was perfect for getting in. There were waves, but not huge ones, and the warm air felt good when getting out. Tony has some GoPro camera footage to upload later.