The Middle Bay Lighthouse began operating in 1885 in Mobile Bay. Its tower and keeper's house sat on iron supports and followed Chesapeake Bay designs, with a fourth-order lens and a fog bell. It was automated in 1935 and deactivated in 1967. After years of neglect, roughly $350,000 in renovations replaced the original tower and light with a pole topped by a solar-powered red light. The lighthouse is offshore and is not currently open for tours or rentals; public access is limited to viewing the exterior.