Lighthouse of Beirut

Across the ages, the Lighthouse of Beirut has watched over this city. It has witnessed empires rise and fall. It has seen peace and prosperity, as well as conflict and devastation. The Lighthouse of Beirut stands as a silent testament to the enduring spirit of this coastal city. The first lighthouse on this site was built by the Ottoman Empire in 1825. Imagine the kerosene lamps, meticulously maintained by the Chebli family. They carried gallons of fuel up the winding stairs, a nightly ritual in the service of maritime safety. This first structure was a modest stone tower, a mere 25 meters tall. It stood watch until the early 1900s. Then, a new, taller lighthouse was built nearby, under French control. The old lighthouse was dismantled, making way for the next chapter in the story of the Lighthouse of Beirut. Tragedy struck on December 22, 1952. The French SS Champollion, a familiar visitor to Beirut’s port, sank near Khaldeh. Joseph Chebli, the lighthouse keeper, was wrongly accused of negligence. He endured imprisonment and public scorn. He steadfastly maintained his innocence. He was eventually exonerated. The true cause was a navigational error: the ship’s captain had mistaken the airport’s green light for the lighthouse’s white beam. This incident spurred the construction of the iconic black and white striped lighthouse in 1957. This third lighthouse, a symbol of resilience, embodied technological advancement. It ran on electricity, a stark contrast to its kerosene-fueled predecessor. The Chebli family continued their vigil, their dedication unwavering through decades of service. Victor Chebli, son of Joseph, took over as keeper in 1973. He navigated the turbulent years of the Lebanese Civil War. The lighthouse was bombed, Victor himself was kidnapped, yet he refused to abandon his post. In a twist of irony, a new threat emerged in the form of progress. A skyscraper, the Manara Tower, rose in the early 2000s, obstructing the lighthouse’s beam. This led to the construction of the current Lighthouse of Beirut, located closer to the water. It stands taller than its predecessors. The old black and white tower now stands silent, a sentinel of a bygone era. Yet, the spirit of the Lighthouse of Beirut endures, embodied in the steady pulse of light that guides ships to the shores of this resilient city.