Rising 245 feet into the air and 362 feet above sea level, Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse is the oldest cast iron lighthouse in the world. Erected in 1846, this fan favorite among Bermudians and tourists alike will give your legs a workout with 185 steps to the top.  Within these 185 steps are 8 levels, each of which contains intriguing exhibits that will educate you on the history of lighthouses in Bermuda.

Constructed in 1846, Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse was designed to protect ships from crashing into the treacherous reefs that line the shores of Bermuda.

Constructed in 1846, Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse was designed to protect ships from crashing into the treacherous reefs that line the shores of Bermuda. In the ten years before its construction, more than 35 ships had wrecked off the western end of the island. Originally operated by the British Army, the lighthouse was purposely built on Gibb’s Hill, next to the signal station in Southampton Parish. Gibb’s Hill, coincidentally, is named after a seafaring family who successfully sailed the rough waters in the 1700’s without the benefit of the lighthouse. During its construction, steel was unavailable so in its place cast iron was used; securing the lighthouse’s place in history as one of the few lighthouses to be built from cast iron.

Erected in 1846, this fan favorite among Bermudians and tourists alike will give your legs a workout with 185 steps to the top.

Originally operating on a system of concentrated burning of four circular wicks, the lighthouse was upgraded in 1904 to a gas chimney that operated until 1923 when a kerosene burner was installed. In 1952, an electrical system was installed to replace the kerosene burner.  However, the kerosene system wasn’t fully removed due to frequent power failures which warranted the need to use the kerosene burner as a back up. Since 1964, a 1,000-watt electric bulb, located in the center of the lens, rotates in a trough containing 1,200 pounds of mercury and weighs 2.75 tons. Composed of concentric prisms, and capable of reaching the luminescence of 500,000 candles, the lens rotates fully every 50 seconds.

Gibb's Hill Lighthouse lens

Today, the fully operational lighthouse is maintained by the government’s Marine and Ports Department and still guides ships ashore. Even with the technology of navigation systems on modern vessels today, sailors still mark the shoreline by the light of the lens just to be sure.

Queen Elizabeth II visited Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse in 1953 during her historical visit to the island, shortly after her coronation. The aptly named “Queen’s View” is a marked place on the roadside where she stopped to watch the scenery of the Great Sound and is noted by a bronze plate.

Queen Elizabeth II visited Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse in 1953 during her historical visit to the island, shortly after her coronation

The lighthouse operates daily from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., closing every February for maintenance and on Christmas Day. After your trek to the top, you may enjoy a meal at “The Dining Room” located in the former signaling station which is open during the tourist season. Admission to the lighthouse is $2.50 per person and those under five years of age are free. Tickets are available for purchase in the gift shop which is located in a separate building at the base of the lighthouse.

The lighthouse operates daily from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Rising 245 feet into the air and 362 feet above sea level, Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse is the oldest cast iron lighthouse in the world.

Lindsey Lehman is the Bermuda Editor for Wandering Educators

All photos courtesy and copyright Lindsey Lehman