Travelogue: Mona Island

The picturesque Mona Island lighthouse (1900), often attributed to the designer Gustave Eiffel, is still standing, but rust is steadily replacing iron. It stopped functioning as a lighthouse in 1976 when it was replaced by an automated signal. Given its condition it must be among the most endangered lighthouses in the United States.

Photo Courtesy of Library of Congress

Mona Island, despite its apparent isolation from nearby development, has a rich history. It was inhabited by the Arawak Indians, sighted by Christopher Columbus during his second voyage, a long time possession of Spain, and finally handed over to the United States in the Treaty of Paris (1898) signaling the end of Spanish Colonial Power in North America and the emergence of the United States in the region.

The 22 square mile flat top island is now administered by The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Tourism Company and is a protected natural habitat. The Lighthouse was placed on the National Register in 1981. Context is important here as the lighthouse resides in one of the most spectacular natural habitats in the world. Mona Island has been compared to the Galapagos for its well-preserved flora and fauna. It is home to the Mona Iguanas—found nowhere else—wild boar, and is the winter home of the Red-Footed Booby.

Landmark status is not an antidote to neglect, and without a use the rusting has continued unabated for many years, probably since 1976.  Official recognition of the problem has lead to a recent study sponsored by the government and carried out under the direction of Luis Gutierrez Architects of San Juan, to evaluate options for its preservation. Ricardo Viera and Dorothy Krotzer of Building Conservation Associates, Inc. took the photos reproduced here of existing conditions during their recent inspection of the lighthouse in 2010.

For more information about the history of the lighthouse follow this link: http://bit.ly/evwBis