Editing Port Aransas, Texas (section)

===Life Saving Station and the Lighthouse===
{{Main|Aransas Pass Light Station}}
In 1850, the [[United States Life-Saving Service]] built the 8th District [[United States Life Saving Station]] in Port Aransas. The station was built for the aid and rescue of shipwrecked mariners and was manned by full-time crews. The Life Saving Station was administered by the [[United States Revenue Marine]] (later renamed the [[United States Revenue Cutter Service]]) and was run with a volunteer crew, much like a [[volunteer fire department]].

About {{convert|1.5|acre|m2}} of land were bought from the State of Texas for $750.00 by the federal government and the Life Saving Station was built on the same site that the [[United States Coast Guard]] station stands on today. The Life Saving Station included a dock that stretched from the boathouse into the channel. The boats were hauled onto rails, and pushed into the boathouse when not in use. The small fleet of boats included a {{convert|16|ft|m|adj=on}} skiff, a {{convert|24|ft|m|adj=on}} surf boat, a {{convert|26|ft|m|adj=on}} whale boat, and a {{convert|27|ft|m|adj=on}} whale boat for rough [[Breaking wave|surf]].

Designated keeper in charge of the 8th District Life Saving Station on Mustang Island was John G. Mercer. Mercer<!-- , Robert's brother, --> was also one of the local bar pilots, and was appointed sometime in September 1880.<!-- This is confusing. John G. Mercer may be the same as John Mercer who is Robert's brother but who is Robert? -->

After the announcement of a regular [[steamship]] service route between New Orleans and Port Aransas, the [[United States Congress]] commissioned $12,500 for the construction of the [[Aransas Pass Light Station|Aransas Pass Lighthouse]]. Haggling over the lighthouse's specifications mired down the process and another survey was done. Meanwhile, the pass slowly moved south, as currents deposited sand on its north bank at the south end of Saint Joseph Island. It was then advised that a lightship be used to mark the pass. More surveying was done, more talk ensued, and then a proposition was accepted to erect a screw-pile lighthouse of brick.

In December 1855, the ship transporting the bricks struck, and then stuck, on the bar. The crewmates were all rescued, but the ship and its cargo went to the bottom of the sea. New bricks arrived in 1856, soon followed by the lantern room that would be set on top, and lastly a fourth order [[Fresnel lens]]. Also, a lighthouse keeper's dwelling, a small storage room, and docks were needed. The construction was complete by mid-1857 and the light guided ships through the pass later that year.

The [[Lydia Ann Channel Lighthouse]] was deactivated in 1952 after a major channel shift left the station a mile from the channel entrance. To better mark Aransas Pass, a new light was established in 1952 at the Port Aransas [[Coast Guard Station]], and the Aransas Pass Lighthouse was deactivated, just a few years shy of a century of service.