The story of the Crooked River Lighthouse begins with the destruction of its predecessor on Dog Island, which was lost to a hurricane in 1873. Recognizing the vulnerability of the island, authorities chose to build its replacement on the secure mainland. Despite various setbacks, the new lighthouse was completed in 1895, accompanied by two residences for its keepers.
For decades, it served as a vital beacon, getting an upgrade to electricity in 1933 and becoming fully automated in 1976. However, that same year, its magnificent fourth-order lens, which was forged in Paris by Henri LaPaute in 1894, had to be removed because of mercury seepage. The lighthouse was officially taken out of service in 1995. Today, the historic lens is displayed at the U.S. Coast Guard’s District 8 Headquarters in New Orleans, while the keepers’ cottages were sold and relocated in 1964, with one later being destroyed by fire.