For decades, the Baron Bliss Lighthouse has anchored Belize City’s waterfront, serving not just as a navigational marker but as one of the most beloved cultural symbols of the entire nation of Belize. But years of coastal exposure and erosion left the historic landmark visibly crumbling, sparking widespread worry among locals and tourism stakeholders that the site could be lost forever to structural failure.
As of July 23, 2026, however, those fears are giving way to optimism: long-planned restoration and upgrade work on the lighthouse is officially underway. The multi-faceted project is far more than a simple repair of the aging structure. Led jointly by the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) and the national Ministry of Tourism, the initiative includes full structural retrofitting of the lighthouse itself, extensive shoreline stabilization to counteract the coastal erosion that threatened the site, widespread landscape beautification, and the construction of a new circular boardwalk surrounding the monument.
Deputy Mayor of Belize City Eluide Miller expressed enthusiasm for the project in a recent statement, noting that local leadership has pushed for intervention at the site for years. “There was significant erosion taking place in that area and so it was absolutely necessary,” Miller explained, adding that city officials are deeply grateful that the BTB and national tourism ministry took on the leadership and investment for the work. When complete, the overhaul is expected to transform the entire waterfront area around the lighthouse into a more dynamic, welcoming tourism hub that benefits both local residents and out-of-town visitors.
The urgency of the project dates back to 2025, when Chief Engineer Evondale Moody issued a formal public warning advising people to avoid gathering near the lighthouse. At that time, Moody noted that ongoing structural settling and a gradual lean of the monument could not be fully evaluated for stability, creating an unacceptable public safety risk that closed the popular site to large crowds for more than a year.
City and tourism officials say the project will strike a critical balance: it will preserve a core piece of Belize’s national history and cultural identity, while also upgrading the area to meet modern safety standards and support the country’s key tourism economy. The revitalized site is expected to draw more visitors to Belize City’s waterfront, support local small businesses, and create a shared public space that the community can enjoy safely for generations to come. This report is adapted from a televised evening news broadcast transcript originally published online.