Cape Florida, Key Biscayne

(In Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park)

• Placed in Service - 1825

• Height - 95 Feet

The Cape Florida Lighthouse has had a tragic history.  Seminole Indian war parties attacked the lighthouse at least twice, killing the keepers family in 1835 and the assistant keeper in 1836.  The keeper was saved in the last attack by fleeing to the top of the tower and burning the stairs behind him.  The site was abandoned for nearly 10 years before the station was repaired in 1846 and tower was raised to its present height.

The site was abandoned once again in 1878 when it was replaced by Fowey Rocks Lighthouse, 10 miles out in the water from Cape Florida.  After over 100 years of neglect, the tower was restored and relit in 1996.  A replica of the keeper's quarters and other buildings have been added to site and tours of the buildings, grounds and lighthouse are available.

You can get the latest information on the lighthouse including directions, and tour information at the following link:

  Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park  

Key West Light, Key West
Key West Lighthouse Museum

(On U.S. Highway 1 in Downtown Key West)

• Placed in Service - 1825

• Destroyed in Hurricane - 1846

• Rebuilt - 1847
  
  Height - 86 Feet

Key West Light is a major tourist attraction in a town filled with major tourist attractions.  The lighthouse, grounds and keepers quarters have been beautifully restored and are open to public (small admission charge).  

The keeper's quarters is filled with a wonderful collection of lighthouse artifacts and local history.  On display in the visitor's center is the beautiful first-order Fresnel lens pictured at the left from the Sombrero Key Light, which is off the coast of Marathon.

Garden Key Light
Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas National Park

• Placed in Service - 1826

• Destroyed in Hurricane - 1873

• Rebuilt - 1876

• Decommissioned in 1912
  

• Height - 37 Feet 

• Inactive (No Lantern)

This is a wonderful lighthouse to visit, just getting there is half the fun.  First of all, it is on a tiny island about 100 miles from Key West.

Access is by ferry boat or seaplane from Key West or by private boat.  I chose the seaplane route, and the flight was beautiful.  Pictured to the left is the view as the seaplane circled the fort coming in. 

This lighthouse is atop the walls of Fort Jefferson, a massive brick fort complete with a moat and drawbride!  The fort was never completely finished, never saw military action and was later used as a prison.

The lighthouse and fort are part of the Dry Tortugas National Park and both are open to public with a small visitors center and limited facilities.  While exploring the old fort, be sure to look for Dry Tortugas Light on nearby Loggerhead Key.

In an area as rich in lighthouses as The Keys, you can also expect to see many facsimiles of lighthouses.  These two can be found along US 1, enroute from Miami to Key West.  Also along this route, you can see several lighthouses offshore. So, don't forget the binoculars!