JELD-WEN Lighthouse Initiative's photostream

With a story of devastating destruction followed by unwavering hope and hard work, New Canal Lighthouse in Louisiana captures the spirit of New Orleans' rebuilding efforts and has earned the top spot in this year's JELD-WEN Reliable Lighthouse Restoration Initiative.

Guided by nearly half a million votes cast for 12 deserving national lighthouse finalists, JELD-WEN determined that New Canal Lighthouse had the most compelling need for restoration. The lighthouse, located on Lake Pontchartrain off the Gulf Coast, stood since 1890 before being demolished by the force of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Now three years later, like much of the New Orleans community, the lighthouse is rebuilding. While many lighthouses are recognized as beacons of safety, the effort to bring New Canal Lighthouse back from destruction also serves as a beacon of hope to a region and a nation still recovering from the devastation of Katrina.

As the winner of this year's JELD-WEN Reliable Lighthouse Restoration Initiative, New Canal will receive 16 new windows and two exterior doors, designed to match the 1890 originals as closely as possible in appearance, while offering the ultimate protection from severe weather.

Advocating for lighthouse restoration

The JELD-WEN Reliable Lighthouse Restoration Initiative began in 2005 to preserve these beloved U.S. landmarks with the latest window and door technology and help restore the original historic architecture. Considered "America's castles," lighthouses face some of the most severe climate conditions in the world and many are threatened by age and lack of resources for restoration. New Canal will follow in the footsteps of three impressive lighthouses that JELD-WEN has helped restore: Umpqua River Lighthouse in Oregon, Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse in Maryland and Wind Point Lighthouse in Wisconsin. Follow the progress at www.jeld-wen.com/lighthouse.

Other finalists this year (in alphabetical order) were Baltimore Harbor Lighthouse in Maryland, Bodie Island Light Station in North Carolina, Cedar Island Lighthouse in New York, Grand Traverse Lighthouse in Michigan, Grays Harbor Light Station in Washington, New Dungeness Light Station in Washington, Pemaquid Point Lighthouse in Maine, Plum Island Station in Wisconsin, Point Arena Light Station in California, Rose Island Lighthouse in Rhode Island and Toledo Harbor Lighthouse in Ohio.