Texas Tower (lighthouse)

Texas Towers were a type of offshore platform resembling oil platforms, used as early warning radar stations by the United States Air Force during the Cold War, and briefly repurposed as lighthouses. Their name derived from their resemblance to oil drilling platforms common off the coast of Texas.

Originally built to detect incoming Soviet bombers, the Texas Towers faced numerous engineering and logistical challenges due to their exposed locations in the Atlantic Ocean. They were constructed on steel legs anchored to the seabed, often in relatively deep water, and were designed to withstand harsh weather conditions.

After the early warning radar program was phased out due to technological advancements (primarily over-the-horizon radar and satellite-based detection systems), one of the Texas Towers, specifically Texas Tower 4, was briefly converted into a lighthouse. This was an attempt to utilize the existing structure for navigational purposes. However, the exposed location and high maintenance costs made this impractical. The converted Texas Tower lighthouse was eventually decommissioned and removed.

The failure of Texas Tower 4 as a lighthouse highlighted the significant differences between the design considerations for radar stations and lighthouses. While radar stations prioritized height and unobstructed views for radar detection, lighthouses require robust weatherproofing, reliable power sources, and ease of maintenance, considerations that were not adequately addressed in the Texas Tower design. The program was also marred by tragedy; Texas Tower 4 collapsed during a storm in January 1961, resulting in the loss of all 28 personnel aboard. This event contributed to the decision to abandon the Texas Tower program altogether.