Nuevitas, Camagüey, January 18th - Located on the tip of Maternillos, on Cayo Sabinal, facing the province of Camagüey, the majestic Colón Lighthouse is a tower that guides sailors with its light. It is a distinctive symbol of identity for the municipality of Nuevitas, whose image remains immortalized in the city’s Coat of Arms, thanks to the master José Salcedo López.
The construction boasts impressive dimensions; it is the second tallest in Cuba, surpassed only by the Morro Lighthouse in Santiago de Cuba. From the Old Bahamas Channel, its colors and the inscription of its name on the tower make it a reference lighthouse and an eternal tribute to the navigator Christopher Columbus.
The history of its construction, begun in 1847, is a story of sacrifice and perseverance. Materials and workers arrived by sea to Nuevitas and were transported in fragile boats to the cay. People of African, European, and Asian descent participated in the work, facing the scarcity of drinking water and the harsh environmental conditions. Every stone laid was the result of titanic effort and inhumane conditions.
On April 23, 1849, in honor of Queen Isabella II of Spain, the lighthouse was inaugurated, although the lantern still needed to be installed. Finally, on May 1, 1850, the light of the Colón Lighthouse shone over the sea for the first time. During that solemn ceremony, documents and periodicals were deposited in a lead-lined wooden box, which are now considered local historical treasures.
Frigate Ensign Pedro Bonifacio González was the first lighthouse keeper, accompanied by Antonio Pardo and two freed black men, Pastor and Ciprián. In the beginning, they lived in humble guano huts until, in 1858, a masonry building was erected to house them. They were the first guardians of a light that was never to be extinguished.
For nearly two centuries, the magnificent building has withstood the exhausting passage of time. In 1988, a history room was created inside, and after 1959, the Cuban Institute of Hydrography, now GEOCUBA, assumed its care, modernizing the installation and ensuring its operation.
Historian Doris Castro Malpica passionately summarizes it: “The Colón Lighthouse is harmoniously integrated into the natural landscape of Nuevitas and constitutes an inseparable symbol of regional history. Its presence documents the material and spiritual life of the community from the 19th century until today, with environmental, identity, and historical meanings that make it a cultural landmark of Nuevitas.”
The Colón Lighthouse is an architectural work and also a living testament to the perseverance of those who built it, proudly guarding the northern coast of Camagüey. Its light, essential not only for guiding ships, continues to illuminate the historical memory and indomitable spirit of the people of Nuevitas.
