The reconstruction of the Lighthouse on Staten Island

Februry 1993 - March/October 1995

Back in Ushuaïa onwards to La Rochelle, the idea do re-ignite this glimmer so close to Cape Horn germinates, develops … and turns into an obsession. Before the end of this millennia, "The Lighthouse at the End of the World" will shine again!

November 1995 Setup of the Non Profit "Le Phare du Bout du Monde" (The Lighthouse at the end of the World).

December 1995 First official presence of the Non-Profit for the Paris Boatshow "Salon Nautique". The projet receives an enthousiastic welcome of all (press and public).

January - February 1996 Two months spend in Ushuaïa and Buenos Aires searching for original plans and journals of previous expeditions as well as getting a feeling of the Argentinian perception of the project.
Here again an enthusiastic reception and obtaining of all authorizations for the reconstruction of the lighthouse. The authorities are appealed by the rationale of the project and the lighthouse obtains the status of national monument also the town of Ushuaïa declares the lighthouse reconstruction project an interest of the city.

The characteristics of the light (beam range and geography, optical signal) are recorded at the Hydrograhic and Oceanographic Service of the Navy.

Ten men for two flashes

Early in the year 1998 ten men set foot on the island for the reconstruction of the lighthouse.

Like in the Age of Enlightenment the expedition, apart from the carpenters also includes two painters, a photographer/cameraman and a music composer.

During two months these men will transport on their shoulders the 15 tons of wood and zinc for the reconstruction of this hexagonal lighthouse on the tip of San Juan de Salvamento on Staten Island.

In this southern end of the world, there where the rays of the sun today still shines on the bleached bones of the Indians buried in the bowels of the earth as if it wants to bring back their souls, a light was shining again on February 26th 1998.