A lighthouse was first established here at the mouth of the Tchefuncte River at Lake Pontchartrain in 1838. The Tchefuncte River was named for a tribe of native American Indians who occupied the area from 600 B. C. to 200 A. D.
In 1811 a small town, Madisonville, was established and named in honor of President James Madison. The town, known for its clean air filtered by pine trees and its cool breezes, soon attracted visitors from New Orleans seeking refuge from the summer heat. Visitors came by steam ferry from New Orleans and the need for a lighthouse was determined to help guide vessels across Lake Pontchartain to the River's entrance.
The first lighthouse keeper was Benjamin Thurston. A lovely house and beautiful grounds surrounded the lighthouse. Damage from hurricanes caused the house to be moved and it is now on the grounds of the Maritime Museum in Madisonville.
In 1952 the lighthouse became automated. Land erosion has caused the lighthouse to all but disappear. Efforts by the Maritime Museum are under way to restore it and much work has been done in the past five years to keep this little treasure of Louisiana history alive.
There are several beautiful scenes of this lighthouse in the movie "Benjamin Button".