Floridiana Magazine

History. Heritage. Home.

Cedar Keys Light Station at Seahorse Key

Cedar Key exudes the description of an “old Florida” town.  Quaint houses. An historic downtown.  Friendly people. The first time I visited Cedar Key was when I worked for Gainesville television station WCJB in the 80s.  Not much has changed since then, but now I view it with a different lens.  I view it as a Florida resident simply interested in the history and beauty of our state.

My most recent trip to Cedar Key was for the purpose of touring the Cedar Keys Light Station during the town’s Seafood Festival in October.  Although Tropical Storm Nestor caused the cancellation of the first day of the festival, it cleared out in time for a beautiful Sunday and a picture-perfect day for a boat ride to Seahorse Key.

Entrance to Seahorse Key | Photo by Floridiana Magazine

The boat ride itself took about thirty minutes. Low tide meant a little navigational skill was needed to get us to our destination, but once there, the views from the island were breathtaking.

Cedar Keys Light Station

Stepping off the boat, the lighthouse was in full view.  Unlike other lighthouses we have visited and climbed, Cedar Keys Light Station is a two-story structure, with the typical spiral staircase leading to the lantern room.  The climb consists of 35 steps, but unfortunately, the stairs were blocked off during our visit, so we could not go to the top to get the panoramic view of Seahorse Key.

Cedar Keys Lighthouse | Photo by Floridiana Magazine

Steps to top of lighthouse | Photo by Floridiana Magazine

New light installed | Photo by Floridiana Magazine

The lighthouse is the oldest standing lighthouse on Florida’s west coast.  Built in 1854, at one time the light could be seen for fifteen miles. It was not only a navigational beacon but was also instrumental in bringing commerce to Cedar Key.

Less than eight years later, the Civil War interrupted life as it was known. At the beginning of the war, the lighthouse fixtures were dismantled and sent to Waldo for safekeeping.  In January of 1862, Union forces on the U.S.S. Hatteras blockaded the keys and destroyed an army barracks and cannons on Seahorse Key.  The lighthouse did not sustain any major damage. In 1866, following the war, the lighthouse was repaired and returned to service. It remained in commission until 1915, due to a significant decrease in vessels using the port.

In 1952, the University of Florida worked out an agreement with U.S. Fish & Wildlife entered to lease the property and establish a marine laboratory. The light station now serves as a dormitory for groups visiting the island for educational purposes.

Seahorse Key Dock | Photo by Floridiana Magazine

After more than 100 years in the dark, the lighthouse was reactivated July 5, 2019.  The fourth-order Fresnel lens that was originally used in the lighthouse, was replicated by Artworks Florida, an Orlando-based company specializing in the restoration of lenses.  In its finished stage, the lens is 36 inches tall and weighs 125 pounds and is lit only during special events.

Other Things to See on Seahorse Key

Birds and Beauty

One of 13 islands that make up the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge, Seahorse Key is said to be the highest elevation on Florida’s west coast.  The sand dune on which the lighthouse was built, is 52.3 feet high which is noticeable when walking the trail from the back of the lighthouse, down to the shore along the Gulf of Mexico.

Unlike other Florida beaches, this one is untouched.  A leisurely walk and keen observation can lead to amazing discoveries.

Steps from the beach to the top of the dune | Photo by Floridiana Magazine

The beach at Seahorse Key | Photo by Floridiana Magazine

Horseshoe Crab | Photo by Floridiana Magazine

Hooded warbler | Photo by Floridiana Magazine

The island and a 300-foot buffer around it are closed from March 1st to June 30th to protect nesting birds.

Cemetery

Another interesting find on the island is a small cemetery with about a dozen headstones. Some of those buried include William Wilson, the first lighthouse keeper (1854 – 1855), and Catharine Hobday, the assistant lighthouse keeper from 1872 to 1879. Catharine was also the only woman to serve at the Cedar Keys Light Station. Her son Andrew was the longest serving lighthouse keeper (1871 – 1890).

Other headstones include two local fishermen from the 1800s and sailors from the U.S.S. Fort Henry and the U.S.S. Union.

Make sure to take the mosquito warnings seriously.  This short walk to the cemetery and back included quite a bit of itching and scratching for sure.

Cemetery on Seahorse Key | Photo by Floridiana Magazine

Catharine Hobday Tombstone | Photo by Floridiana Magazine

Navy sailors tombstones | Photo by Floridiana Magazine

Seahorse Key, managed by the Lower Suwannee Wildlife Refuge, is about three miles off Cedar Key and is only open to the general public during open house events.  There are usually about four open houses during the year.  The dates listed so far for 2020 include Wednesday, March 4th and Wednesday, March 18th.

Check out the Nature Coast Biological Station website for future events on Seahorse Key.

Other Fun Facts

  • The name “Cedar Keys” came from two American explorers who were searching for cedar timber near the Suwannee River.
  • Seahorse Key got its name because the land formation resembles a seahorse.

Please view our slide show below of additional photographs taken on Seahorse Key and be sure to leave us a comment on your own adventures of the island.

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Year in Review: Florida Travels

Over the past year, we have traveled the state looking for those places that represent the history and the heritage of Florida, as well as the spirit and the characteristics that make it home.  We covered a lot of ground in 2018 and hope you have joined us on some of our journeys.  Here are the highlights of the year, along with embedded links to the original posts.

Punta Gorda

Punta Gorda – It’s Happening on the Harbor – a motto that doesn’t disappoint.  Situated along the shores where the Peace River and Charlotte Harbor meet, Punta Gorda provides an eclectic mix of things to see and do: a relaxing waterfront, historic buildings, educational mural walk and a variety of shops and restaurants.

Check out our article for plenty of ideas to make your trip one to remember.

Richloam General Store

Sometimes you are lucky to stumble upon a Florida gem simply by venturing away from the highways and taking the backroads.  Such is the case with the Richloam General Store, tucked away in the Withlacoochee State Forest in Hernando County.  Definitely off the beaten path, but one of our favorite places we visited in 2018!  The store was built in 1920 and is the oldest historical building still standing in the Richloam area.  Staying true to the time period, it offers goods you would have seen in the 20s and 30s.  The store is open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Read more about Richloam here and make plans to visit.

Sugar Sand Distillery, Inc., Lake Placid

When you think of Florida, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?  Maybe it’s the sunshine, or the beautiful beaches, or maybe even the theme parks, but have you thought about the wineries, or craft breweries, or even craft distilleries?  One of the newest distilleries in the state is Sugar Sand Distillery on Henscratch Road in Lake Placid.  Billed as Florida’s only estate grown sugar cane distillery, it opened its doors for tours and tastings less than a year ago.  It may be off the beaten path, but it’s worth the stop.

Click here to learn more about Sugar Sand.

The Orange Shop, Citra

Tucked away in North Central Florida, between Ocala and Hawthorne, is the small town of Citra.  Known as the home of the pineapple orange, Citra was founded in 1881 in an area where citrus was prominent.  While that is part of the town’s history, it isn’t the only unique feature about Citra.  It is also the home of The Orange Shop, one of the last true roadside citrus stands in Florida.  In business since 1936, the owners are third-generation growers who continue to harvest fruit from groves that have been producing since the Civil War.

Learn more about The Orange Shop and put it on your calendar before June first.

Things to See and Do in Apalachicola

Apalachicola is one of our favorite places to visit.  While some of the things we featured in our original post may not be exactly as they were prior to Hurricane Michael in October, it is still an amazing coastal town you don’t want to miss.  Apalachicola is up and running again and there are plenty of things to see and do.  As its name translates, it is the “land of the friendly people.”

Put it on your list of places to see in 2019!

Caladium Festival, Lake Placid

Florida is home to many festivals, ranging from the absurd to the logical.  By definition, festivals celebrate something unique about a community or its culture.  For the central Florida town of Lake Placid, that uniqueness is its designation as “Caladium Capital of the World.”  The idea for the Caladium Festival came from the Highlands County Tourist Development Commission as a way to promote the industry and, at the same time, create an event to bring visitors into town.

Make sure to mark your calendars for the 2019 festival on July 26, 27, and 28, but don’t wait until then to visit this gem of a town.

Bat Houses at University of Florida

Did you know that Florida is home to the world’s largest occupied bat houses?  In fact, they have become quite the nightly attraction.  The first bat house was built in 1991 to provide a new “home” for a colony of bats that were left homeless after a fire destroyed Johnson Hall in 1987.  There are now three bat houses with an estimated 400,000 bats now occupying these dwellings.  They are located on Museum Road at the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, just across from Lake Alice.  Take a look at the experience, then plan it for yourself!

Honors System Businesses

During our travels in 2018, we came across several businesses operating on the honors system, where collection boxes are used as the only means to pay.  It may sound like a risky venture, but the business owners we talked to told us most people are good and honest.  Most of the honors system businesses we found were local honey stands, all located along back roads, or along highways through the rural parts of the state. These businesses are reminiscent of a much simpler time in Florida and you can read more about them here.

Lake Wales, Florida

Known as the Crown Jewel of the Ridge, Lake Wales sits in the center of the state, just off Highway 27 and State Road 60.  With its historic roots, its quirky qualities, and its persona of a small city with a hometown atmosphere, Lake Wales is a true Floridiana find.  Whether you are taking a trip into downtown, visiting the tower on the hill, or participating in any number of festivals and celebrations, nostalgia and culture abound. Take a peek at some of the things you can do here.

Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum

Before there were towns, or roads or railroads, there was the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse.  This red and black lighthouse has been lighting the way along Florida’s East Coast since July 10, 1860.  Built on a natural sand hill, the lighthouse itself is 108 feet tall and can be seen 24 miles out at sea.  In 1973 the lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, then in 1974, it was opened to public tours by the Loxahatchee River Historical Society.  Before you even get inside, there are 34 steps you have to climb just to get to the base of the lighthouse.  Those are the easy ones.  Once inside, there are 105 steep iron stairs. Once at the top, the views are breathtaking!  You can see some of them in our original post.  

Boyett’s Grove and Citrus Attraction

What started as a fruit stand more than 55 years ago, has evolved into a classic Florida roadside attraction that still draws visitors today.  Located on the top of a hill in Brooksville, Boyette’s Grove and Citrus Attraction not only offers delicious citrus fruit, but also a nostalgic look at Florida oddities, along with a walk on the wild side. You have to see it to believe it!

Trapper Nelson’s Zoo and Jungle Garden

Three miles down the Loxahatchee River, where it meanders through the Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound, is Trapper Nelson’s Zoo and Jungle Garden, or what is left of it.  Trapper Nelson (aka Vincent Natulkiewicz), known as the “Wildman of the Loxahatchee,” turned his property along the river into a wildlife zoo in the mid-1940s, and for the next 15 years or so, visitors from around the world visited to see him wrestle alligators and wrap himself up in snakes.

Check out our post about Trapper Nelson, then make plans to take the tour for yourself and spend the day at the Jonathan Dickinson State Park.  Note, the site is accessible only by canoe, boat or by tour boat.

FM Notes

We hope you have enjoyed our travels as much as we have.  We wish you a happy and healthy 2019 and hope it is filled with fun Florida travels!

Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum

Before there were towns, or roads or railroads in Palm Beach County, there was the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse.  This red and black lighthouse has been lighting the way along Florida’s East Coast since July 10, 1860.  Built on a natural sand hill, the lighthouse itself is 108 feet tall and can be seen 24 miles out at sea. Just think about it, for more than 150 years ships have used the lighthouse’s beacon to guide them safely around the Gulf Stream and away from reefs and shoals.

History of Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse

Because of its location at the junction of the Indian River and Jupiter Inlet, in 1849 army surveyors recommended the Jupiter Inlet as a strategic and appropriate place for military defenses. After President Franklin Pierce signed an order to set aside the 61 ½ acres for a lighthouse, Lieutenant George Meade designed the structure, and Lieutenant William Raynolds improved the strength with the design of a double wall.  The lighthouse is comprised of a tower and an iron top, or lantern.  The first-order Fresnel (fray-nel) lens in operation is said to be the oldest existing first-order Fresnel lens in Florida and is one of only 13 active in the United States.

In 1973 the lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, then in 1974, it was opened to public tours by the Loxahatchee River Historical Society.

Climbing the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse

Before you even get inside, there are 34 steps you have to climb just to get to the base of the lighthouse. Those are the easy ones.  Once inside, there are 105 steep iron stairs – 100 of them date back to 1860, five were replaced in 2000.

As you work your way to the top, there are three landings that not only provide a chance to catch your breath, but also a look out in different directions.  Those views themselves are amazing, but the views from the top are out of this world.  Walk around the top and see the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian River, Jupiter Inlet and the Loxahatchee River.  On a clear day, you can see for miles.

Other Things to See at the Lighthouse

While the lighthouse is the centerpiece of the property, there are other things to see during your visit.

Keepers’ Workshop and Exhibit

Just off the deck by the lighthouse you will find the Keepers’ Workshop and Exhibit “Keeping the Light at Jupiter Inlet.” Once inside, pick up an adventure map that will take you back in time for a look at the early years of the lighthouse.  Each of the eight “stations” depicted on the map provides information about the lighthouse.  Find out why Jupiter has a lighthouse, a timeline of the lighthouse, how the lighthouse works, or stories of some of the keepers.

Prior to becoming a workshop and exhibit, the building served as a pump house and paint storage locker.  It was built in 1929, but then rebuilt and expanded in 1929 after a major hurricane.

Banyan Tree and Deck

As you walk up the pathway to the lighthouse, the limbs of a large banyan tree reach out in every direction, offering shade to a wooden deck built over the foundation of the original keepers’ house.  Even though it may look like there are several trees, there is only one! The hair-like roots on this 85-year-old tree reach back to the ground, take hold and form new tree trunks.

Tindall House

The house was built in 1892 by George Tindall and is believed to be one of the oldest houses in Palm Beach County.  Originally, the house was located along the Loxahatchee River several miles west of its current location.  It was moved in 1997 to Burt Reynolds Park, then again in 2007 to its final home in Lighthouse Park.  The main portion of the house features four rooms: living room, parlor, bedroom and workroom.  True to style for cracker houses, the Tindall house is elevated off the ground, has high ceilings, and large windows.  Off the back of the house is a replica of the kitchen and dining area, separated from the main part of the house to cut back on heat and potential fires to the remainder of the house.  The interior is furnished with photos of the family, as well as donated items from the 1900s.

Pennock Plantation Bell

Protected from the elements under a wooden roof, the Pennock Plantation Bell has a history of its own.  The bell was used to signal lunch break or the end of a work day at the Pennock Plantation.  It would ring once on those occasions, then continuously when the volunteer fire department was needed. The Pennocks are some of the early pioneers of Jupiter, arriving in 1902 and starting a fern business, as well as a dairy farm. During the first half of the 20th century, the Pennock Plantation was the largest employer in Jupiter.

Plants

As you walk along the brick path, make sure to stop and take a look at the many plants along the way.  Some of them are native to Florida, while others are not.  Wild coffee, muhly grass, dune sunflowers, and beauty berries are all native.  Although agave is found mostly in Mexico and the American Southwest, the dry, sandy soil of Florida is also conducive to its growth. Agave has been growing at the Jupiter Lighthouse for more than 100 years.

Museum and Gift Shop

Before you leave, make sure to check out the museum and gift shop.  The museum, housed inside the 1940 WII Naval Housing Building, offers the exhibit “5,000 Years on the Loxahatchee.”  Eight galleries provide additional information on the lighthouse, maritime history and notable individuals from the area.

 

Self-guided Tour App

If you opt to explore the grounds without a tour guide, there is an App you can download that ensures you don’t miss anything!  Starting from the welcome gate, you are guided on a journey through the history of early Native Americans and the Seminole Indians in the area.  Interpretive readings from period journals provide personal recollections of the life and times of early settlers.

The App provides information on some of the best areas for taking photos, as well as points of interest along the brick path.

 

Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum Hours

The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum is located at 500 Captain Armour’s Way in Jupiter and is open 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  The last lighthouse grounds admission is at 4:00 p.m. Guided docent tours are held at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.  Note that the lighthouse is open Tuesday – Sunday, May through December and seven days a week from January to April.

There is a $12 admission fee for adults, $6 for children 6 – 18, and no charge for children five and under.  Special rates are available for U.S. Veterans and senior 60 and over. Children must be 48” to climb.

 

 

 

 

Lighthouses Along Florida’s Forgotten Coast

Lighthouses have been guiding the way for ships into Florida since the first one was built and lit in St. Augustine in 1824.  Besides the value they provide along the 1,350 miles of coastline, lighthouses also serve as symbols of strength and safety as well as beacons of hope.

Along a 75-mile stretch of US 98 in the Florida panhandle, three lighthouses stand tall, each with their own story to tell.

St. Marks Lighthouse

The drive to the St. Marks Lighthouse is scenic to say the least.  After entering the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge, it’s another seven miles to the lighthouse itself.  The slow drive takes you through pine flatwoods, tidal pools and marshes and if you look closely, you might just see alligators, birds and other wildlife, or a buoy washed in by a recent hurricane.

The lighthouse sits at the end of the road, at the mouth of the St. Marks River. The first structure, a hollow-walled tower built in 1830, was not accepted by the customs inspector and a second tower was built, this time with solid walls. But there were problems with the solid walls. Moisture could not evaporate and, as a result, cracks started forming as the structure settled. A tidal surge in 1837 caused even more problems. An inspector at the time determined the lighthouse was in “wretched condition” and had to be rebuilt immediately. Rebuilt again, with hollow walls, the lighthouse has guided ships and boaters to the entrance of the river for more than 180 years.  It stands 88 feet tall and includes 85 steps from the base to the top.  Seventy-two of those steps are wooden, the last 13 are iron.

The St. Marks Lighthouse was decommissioned by the Coast Guard and its ownership transferred to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 2013.  Its Fourth Order Fresnel lens was removed and sent to the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse Preservation Association for cleaning and preserving.  It is now in the Visitor Center at the refuge.

We hoped our visit would allow us the opportunity to climb the steps of the lighthouse and lookout over the river.  However, we were greeted by volunteers with the Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge who informed us the lighthouse is closed to visitors while money is being raised for its preservation.  Once the money is raised and the work completed, the lighthouse will open again for tours.

Crooked River Lighthouse, Carrabelle

A little more than an hour west on 98 is the Crooked River Lighthouse in Carrabelle.  Built in 1895, its purpose was to provide guidance for timber ships and fishermen through the pass between Dog and St. George Islands. The 103-foot iron and steel structure was built on the mainland as a replacement to the three lighthouses that once stood on Dog Island.

The lighthouse was lit with what was believed to be the first bivalve fourth order lens installed in the United States at the time. It remained in the lighthouse until 1976 due to mercury leakage and is now in the Coast Guard’s district offices in New Orleans.  Crooked River was decommissioned in 1995, just shy of its 100th anniversary.   The lighthouse stood neglected for several years until ownership was transferred to the City of Carrabelle in 2001 and then leased to the Carrabelle Lighthouse Association. The lighthouse reopened in 2009, about 14 years after it was shut down.

A Keeper’s House Museum, an original outbuilding, a playground and the lighthouse all make up the Crooked River Lighthouse Park.  The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5:00 PM and, weather permitting, tower climbs are available for a small charge.

Cape St. George Light, St. George Island

The first lighthouse was built in 1833 on the western tip of St. George Island.  Three others followed it, including the current lighthouse, completed in 2008, which sits at the end of the four-mile bridge onto St. George Island, in the center of town.  The fact it was rebuilt is a testament to the community.  In 1995, Hurricane Opal wreaked havoc, washing the lighthouse from its foundation, and leaving other buildings in ruins.  As the tower began to lean over the years, the community stepped up efforts to “Save the Light.” Before they could decide whether to move it to a new location or shore it up where it was standing, the lighthouse collapsed into the Gulf of Mexico.  Pieces of the lighthouse were salvaged, as well as 22,000 bricks.  Those bricks are now visible inside the current lighthouse. With the original plans for the 1852 structure from the National Archives in Washington, D.C., the lighthouse was rebuilt in its current location.

The lighthouse contains 92 wooden spiral steps and an eight-rung metal ladder at the top.  A small scuttle hole of 24” x 21” permits passage to the lens.  Once at the top, the view is breathtaking, from the island itself to the waters of the Gulf of Mexico to St. George Sound and Apalachicola Bay.

A complete history of all four structures can be found inside the Lighthouse Keeper’s House, which serves as a museum and a gift shop. There is a small fee to climb the lighthouse, but it is worth it. The climb is easy until the metal ladder.  The opening to get to the top can be challenging to navigate.

With only 30 remaining lighthouses today, lighthouses are a big part of the history of Florida.  Some are now in the hands of local preservation societies and rely on funding to keep them maintained and open to the public.  You, too, can celebrate all things Florida by making plans to visit one of Florida’s remaining lighthouses.

Ponce Inlet Light Station and Museum

There are some locations that seem to beckon you to visit.  The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is one of them.  Reaching 175 feet majestically into the sky, this red structure is the tallest lighthouse in the state, and second tallest masonry lighthouse in the United States, behind the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Ponce Inlet Lighthouse

The Lighthouse

The day we visited, the lighthouse wasn’t even on my radar.  (I’m certainly not one who would go climbing something that tall just for the fun of it!) Standing at the base and looking up, the lighthouse didn’t look that formidable.   But try climbing the 203 steps and you will definitely have a different opinion.  I know I did.  Thankfully, on the lower levels there were places to stop and catch our breath.  But as we got closer to the top, it felt like the walls were closing in.  No wonder.  Its 32-foot diameter base slowly shrinks to just 12 feet at the top.  Once there, though, the view – even on a cloudy day – is breathtaking – water everywhere you look.  After all, it is located ten miles south of Daytona Beach, where the Halifax River and Indian River flow into the Atlantic Ocean.

Looking out at the Atlantic Ocean

Ponce Inlet Light Station Museum

Construction on the lighthouse began in 1884 and was completed in 1887. Still an active lighthouse, it also serves as the focal point of the Ponce Inlet Light Station and Museum, which includes all of the original dwellings of the keepers as well as other support buildings.  Ponce Inlet is one of the only Light Stations in the United States that has these buildings intact.

Keeper’s Dwellings

There are three Keeper’s Dwellings that serve as the museum: Principal Keeper’s, First Assistant Keeper’s, and Second Assistant Keeper’s.  Each building provides visitors with a different piece of history.  The Principal Keeper’s Dwelling once was home to the principal keeper and his family. Now it houses exhibits about  lighthouses of the world, lighthouses for airplanes, and Native Americans in Florida, to name a few.

Principal Keeper’s Dwelling

The First Assistant’s Dwelling is not open for actual tours, but can be seen through viewing panels on the front and back porches.  It was named in honor of Gladys Meyer Davis whose father served as the last Lighthouse Service Principal Keeper at the lighthouse.  The building is furnished as it would have been in the late 1800s or early 1900s. In the Second Assistant Keeper’s Dwelling, visitors can learn more about the local community, from beach racing to the lives of the keepers and their families.  This building actually served as the first town hall for Ponce Inlet in the early 1960s.

First Assistant’s Dwelling

Lens Exhibit

A visit to the lighthouse wouldn’t be complete with going inside of the Lens Exhibit Building.  Before this trip, I did not know about the different types of lenses that are used in lighthouses.  I still don’t know a lot, but what I do know, is this is an impressive collection.  The rotating first order Fresnel lens from the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse is on display as well as the original fixed first order Fresnel lens that was used from 1887 – 1933 in the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse.

Some of the lenses on display

Sign explaining the history of the Cape Canaveral lens

Learn more about the history of Ponce Inlet Lighthouse through other exhibits onsite.  The Ponce De Leon Inlet Light Station and Museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  From Memorial Day to Labor Day the hours are extended until 9:00 p.m. with the last tour beginning at 8:00 p.m.  There is an entrance fee which you pay inside the gift shop.

 

Floridiana Magazine (FM) Footnotes:

The Light Station and Museum is operated by the Ponce De Leon Inlet Lighthouse Preservation Association, Inc.  It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1998 and is now visited by more than 170,000 people a year.

According to the Florida Lighthouse Association, there are 30 lighthouses in Florida and preserving all of them would take nearly $20 million dollars.

For those who visit lighthouses on a regular basis, visit United States Lighthouse Society Passport Program and join the free Passport Club.  There is a charge to actually purchase your passport. Information on that is also available on the website.