Constructed in 1858, this three-story hexagonal lighthouse was originally located in Matagorda Bay at the southern tip of Half Moon Reef. The beacon served as an aid to ships trading in Port Lavaca and the nearby town of Indianola, 14 miles southeast. During the Civil War, Confederate troops disabled the light in an attempt to disrupt Federal efforts to capture southern blockade runners. The lighthouse was restored to full operation in 1868 and remained in service until 1943, when it was moved to Point Comfort, 7 miles northeast. It was relocated here in 1979.