Close up view of the top of the Diamond Head Lighthouse. Two round metal railings with a metal ladder. The top of the lighthouse has a red dome and weather vane.
Diamond Head Lighthouse
The Diamond Head Lighthouse is a prominent symbol of Hawaiian history to residents and visitors alike. The lighthouse rests aside a tuff-cone volcano, formed by explosive eruptions thousands of years ago. In 1825, British sailors ascended the crater and found hard, clear calcite crystals among the black rocks. Mistaking them for diamonds, the sailors named the crater Diamond Head. One of the Hawaiian names for Diamond Head is โleahiโ, meaning the โwreath of fireโ. This name reflects the ancient Hawaiian practice of lighting a fire on the crest of the volcano to guide canoe fleets back to the island. The first lighthouse on this site was built in 1899. It was rebuilt in 1917 when cracks developed in the earlier structure. The Diamond Head Lighthouse still uses the original Fresnell Lens. The flash of a modern 1000-watt electric bulb is focused by the lens so it can be seen more than 18 miles out to sea.
*See next photo for the rest of the text/not enough room
A more distant view of the lighthouse behind part of a roof & a stone wall & wall fountain as well as palm trees/other trees.
**Here is the rest of the text from the sign (2nd photo):
The Lighthouse Service was combined with the Coast Guard in 1939. Since then, the Coast Guard has been responsible for the maintenance of the lighthouses, buoys, and other aids to navigation throughout the United States. The Lighthouse Keeperโs dwelling, built in 1921, now serves as the quarters of the Commander, Fourteenth Coast Guard District.
Close up of the wall fountain located against a stone wall. I assume it is marble. There is a lion's head towards the top where the water would flow.
More photos of the Diamond Head Lighthouse, including a sign with detailed info about the lighthouse.
#AlphabetChallenge
#WeekHforHistory