Floridiana Magazine

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Carrabelle, Florida: Get Hooked  

Carrabelle. A quaint little town on U.S. 98 along Florida’s Forgotten Coast. It’s a town most folks drive through to get to Apalachicola or St. George Island.  But for those who choose to venture off the main road, there’s a town full of history, some unique attractions, a beautiful beach, and a fisherman’s paradise – all which prove why it’s easy to get hooked on Carrabelle.

City of Carrabelle Clock | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

History of Carrabelle

Carrabelle’s rich history spans centuries, from the Native American tribes that originally inhabited the area, to the Spanish explorers who established a presence in the area and made it a focal point for trade and exploration.

Carrabelle’s natural resources also played a significant role in shaping its history. Fishing became a vital industry, with the Gulf waters providing a bounty of seafood that sustained the local community and supported trade. The forests surrounding Carrabelle led to the rise of a thriving timber industry and fueled the growth of sawmills and lumber operations.

How Did Carrabelle Get Its Name?

In the early 1870s, Oliver Hudson Kelly, a farmer from Massachusetts, visited the area to study the potential for agriculture for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  He was impressed by the natural resources he saw and, in 1877, founded the town of “Rio Carrabella” or “beautiful river.” It’s believed Kelly named the town after his niece Caroline Arrabella Hall. The town was incorporated in 1893.

Impact of World War II

During World War II, Carrabelle played a significant role in the war effort. The town’s strategic coastal location made it an ideal site for military training and operations. In 1942, Camp Gordon Johnston was established near Carrabelle, becoming a crucial training center for amphibious warfare. The camp trained about a quarter million soldiers on the coast of Carrabelle in beach landings, waterborne maneuvers, and other essential skills needed for the war’s Pacific and European theaters. The Camp was closed in June of 1946.

Camp Gordon Johnston – a critical training area during WWII | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Aerial View of Camp Gordon Johnston, 1942-1946 | Floridiana Magazine

Carrabelle Museums

While you’re in Carrabelle, you can get a glimpse of all its history, thanks to three separate museums honoring World War II, the town itself, and the Crooked River Lighthouse.

Camp Gordon Johnston World War II Museum

The museum preserves and showcases the history of Camp Gordon Johnston. Visitors to the museum can take a step back in time and explore a wide range of artifacts, photographs, and documents that provide insights into the training programs, equipment, and daily life of soldiers who were stationed at the camp.

Welcome to Camp Gordon Johnston | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Museum displays capture the attention of even the young. | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Living Quarters | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and is located on Highway 98 West.  There is no charge for admission, but donations are welcome.

Carrabelle History Museum

From its indigenous roots to its maritime heritage, the Carrabelle History Museum offers a comprehensive look at the town’s cultural fabric. The museum is housed in the old City Hall on Avenue B. Visitors are met with a wide variety of displays – from the history of Carrabelle, to the importance of salt in WWII and its connection to the Forgotten Coast, fishing equipment, the history of shipwrecks and the lumber industry, and the tales of local legends. You will also find the original “World’s Smallest Police Station” on display in the museum.

The Carrabelle History Museum is open Wednesdays from noon until 5:00 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., and Sunday from noon until 5:00 p.m.   There is no charge for admission.

Carrabelle History Museum | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Display of salt kettle and cannon | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Fishing was a vital industry. | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

The original World’s Smallest Police Station | Floridiana Magazine

Crooked River Lighthouse Keeper’s House Museum & Park

Built in 1895, the Crooked River Lighthouse provided guidance for timber ships and fishermen through the pass between Dog Island 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. Crooked River was decommissioned in 1995, just shy of its 100th anniversary.

The lighthouse was lit with what was believed to be the first bivalve fourth order Fresnel lens installed in the United States at the time. The lens remained in the lighthouse until 1976, when it was moved to the Coast Guard’s district offices in New Orleans.  The light was recently refurbished and is now on permanent display inside the museum.

Crooked River Lighthouse, Carrabelle, FL | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

The accompanying Keeper’s House Museum is a replica of the original keeper’s house. Not only does it house the Fresnel lens, it also shares the history of the lighthouse, maritime trade, and the families who lived and worked in the area.

Keeper’s House Museum | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

 

Although the park is open every day from dawn until dusk, you can only visit the museum and gift shop Thursday through Sunday from noon until 5:00 p.m. Lighthouse climbing is limited to Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m.  As a side note, there are 138 steps to the top. There is no charge for the museum, but there is a small fee to climb the lighthouse.

Unique Attractions of Carrabelle

Like other small towns, Carrabelle lays claim to a few surprising oddities that must be included on your to-do list in town.  The World’s Smallest Police Station and a Bottle House attract people from all over the country, if not the world.

World’s Smallest Police Station

This unique attraction started as a phone in a call box in 1953 bolted to the wall of a building in town. It was a convenient way for officers to answer police calls while out walking the beat, even though they often got wet when it was raining. Unfortunately, the phone was misused by folks in the community, and it was decided to move the box to another location.

That didn’t remedy the situation, so when the phone company replaced an old phone booth, it was the solution the town was looking for.  The old phone booth was moved to its current location on Highway 98 in 1963 and the police phone was installed.  It was dubbed the World’s Smallest Police Station. Now, the officers could answer their calls and stay out of the elements.  The dial was eventually removed because of continued misuse by residents.  What you see now on Highway 98 is a replica of the original booth. You can see the real thing inside the Carrabelle History Museum.

World’s Smallest Police Station, Carrabelle, FL | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

The World’s Smallest Police station is a favorite for all ages. | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Carrabelle Bottle House

Also close to downtown, sits a shining example of one man’s ingenuity – a house and lighthouse made from glass bottles. Over a year’s time, Leon Weisner crafted more than 6,000 bottles he got from his friends and neighbors, a recycling center, or from dumpster diving. The bright blues and greens of the bottles shine in the sunlight. If you’re lucky enough to be there at dusk, the lights inside the structures come on for several hours.

There is no admission charge, just make sure you close the gate when you enter and exit so the resident dogs do not get out.

Carrabelle Bottle House | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

 

Other Things to See and Do in Carrabelle

The Beach

The public beach is a popular destination for those looking for some fun in the sun.  The white sugar sand beaches offer a place to relax in the Gulf waters or watch dolphins play offshore.  Beach goers also have access to the newly renovated Wayside Park pavilions and restrooms.

Carrabelle Beach | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

The Riverfront

Not all water activities are centered around the beach.  Carrabelle is a working waterfront community that also provides access to recreational fishing and boating. The New River and Crooked River join at the Carrabelle River and connect to the Gulf of Mexico. Whether you fish from the Carrabelle River Walk or schedule a charter boat, salt water and freshwater fishing offer up some good catches.

Along the riverfront | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Boating, fishing … fun on the water | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Dining

One of the fun parts of visiting small towns is finding new places to eat. There are several to choose from in Carrabelle, but there are only so many places you can eat in one day. During our visit we stopped in Harry’s Bar and ordered our lunch from the adjacent Marine Street Grill.  Good food and a fun atmosphere.

Harry’s Bar and Marine Street Grill | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Always look up! | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

How to Get To Carrabelle

Carrabelle is located on Highway 98 along the Gulf of Mexico 20 miles east of Apalachicola and about 50 miles southwest of Tallahassee.

Final Thoughts

Carrabelle is one of many small towns dotting the Florida coastline.  It’s old Florida at its finest and once you visit, we’re sure you will get hooked on Carrabelle as well.

Click on the slideshow below to see more of our pictures from our visit to Carrabelle and leave a comment about your favorite Florida small town.

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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!

Things to See and Do in Apalachicola

There are some places you can visit over and over again and not see everything there is to see or do everything there is to do.  Those same places change over time and, from one visit to the next, may not offer the same “landmarks” you made it a point to see.  One such town is Apalachicola, on Florida’s Forgotten Coast.  As its name translates, it is the “land of the friendly people.”

Brief History of Apalachicola

Even though Apalachicola wasn’t settled until the 1820s, its history goes back much further – Native Americans thousands of years ago, along with European influence by the Spanish and English.  Florida was ceded to United States in 1821.  Originally named Cottonton, then incorporated as West Point, it was renamed Apalachicola in 1831.

As you drive over the bridge on US 98 heading west, the history of Apalachicola is easy to understand.  Its location along the Apalachicola River where it meets Apalachicola Bay, set this town up as a port for shipping – making it at one time the third largest cotton shipping port on the Gulf of Mexico.  Besides cotton, Apalachicola also thrived in the sponge and timber industries.  The sponge trade, beginning in the 1870s, became the third largest in the state.  One of the original sponge warehouses, The Sponge Exchange, remains in downtown Apalachicola.

Another major industry in Apalachicola, and one that remains today, is the seafood industry. Apalachicola is known throughout the United States for its oysters.

Historic Homes in Apalachicola

A drive through the historic district of Apalachicola is like a drive back in time. There are more than 900 historic homes, buildings and other sites within the district to see, ten of them designated as Florida Heritage Landmarks. A couple you don’t want to miss include the Dr. Alvan W. Chapman House, the Hanserd-Fry House, and perhaps the most famous in Apalachicola, the Orman House.

Dr. Alvan W. Chapman House – This house was built in 1847 for Dr. Chapman who, besides being a physician, was also a botanist.  He is known for his research and writings on the flora of the South.  Chapman was very active in Apalachicola, having served as county judge, mayor and collector of customs.

Hanserd-Fry House –  Located on 5th Street, the Hanserd-Fry House was built around 1845 and served as the residence of several individuals.  The first-known owner was Joseph Hanserd who lived there as early as 1866, followed by Kate Ayers in 1872, with Captain Weber Fry buying it in 1880.  Fry was a riverboat captain on the Apalachicola River. The house served as the Apalachicola Museum of Art from 2006 – 2016 and now is the office and visitor center for the St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge.

The Orman House – The Orman House is a Florida State Park and sits on a bluff overlooking the Apalachicola River. It is a must see on a visit to Apalachicola.  The house was built in 1838 by Thomas Orman, a cotton merchant and businessman credited with being a key to the success of the town.

Touring this stately home takes you back to the 1800s.  As you walk through the house, you get a glimpse of the Orman family lifestyle.  The house is filled with old family photographs, period fashion, ornate fixtures, a formal dining room, a child’s room and so much more.

Outside you can catch a glimpse of an old barn, one of the original servants’ houses, and take a tour of the gardens.

Guided tours are available Thursday through Monday for a $2.00 charge.  It is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Other Things to See and Do in Apalachicola

Three Soldiers Detail Statue

In front of the Gorman House sits Veterans Memorial Park, with the Three Soldiers Detail Statue as its centerpiece.  The statue was dedicated in 2008 as a tribute to Vietnam Veterans from the south. Cast from the original molds of the statue located at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., this statue is lifelike and humbling.

John Gorrie Museum State Park

Also known as the Ice Box Museum, this museum pays tribute to John Gorrie, a physician who moved to Apalachicola in the early 1830s. Gorrie was concerned for his yellow fever patients and wanted to find a way to cool their rooms.  As a result, he invented a mechanical device that produced ice, and received the first U.S. Patent for mechanical refrigeration in 1851.

Apalachicola Riverfront Park  

Riverfront Park overlooks the Apalachicola River and offers up a little more of the town’s history.  Read up on the sponge industry, watch the fishing boats go by or just enjoy sitting by the fountain.  The park also serves as the backdrop for many of the local events.

Fun Shops

There are always those stores in town you don’t want to miss.  In Apalachicola, it is The Tin Shed.  If you’re looking for something nautical, this is the place.  Don’t forget to stop by the buoy wall – it’s a popular place for photos.  (Note: Since this post was written originally, The Tin Shed has moved locations and the buoy wall is no longer there.)

Food and Drinks

With seafood as its main industry, Apalachicola serves up some great food in its many restaurants. One of our favorites is the Up the Creek Raw Bar.  Whether you sit inside or choose one of the tables outside, the food and the views are good.

While you’re in Apalachicola, don’t forget to stop by the Olde Time Soda Fountain.  It’s been dishing up these delicious treats since 1905.  Take your seat at the counter and order from a variety of flavors or shakes.  A great place to take the kids, but a word of warning, there are a lot of fun items in the gift shop that they’ll want to take home!

For the adults, make a stop by Oyster City Brewing Company on Avenue D.  If you’re looking for a cold beer brewed right here in Apalachicola, make plans to stop by.

Gone but Not Forgotten – The Venezellos

The few times I have visited Apalachicola always involved a stop in front of the Venezellos at the corner of Avenue E and Water Street.  The boat was built in 1915 in Apalachicola by Demo George (Demosthenes George Margomenos).  It always provided a great subject for photographs, even in its weathered state.  With each visit, the boat showed a little more wear.  A few more boards were rotten, the weeds grew taller.  Then, in October 2017, the boat was taken apart and removed.  A Facebook page has been set up by Demo George’s family to remember the boat through photos.

Fun Fact

Bing Crosby recorded the song “Apalachicola, F-L-A” in 1947 with the Andrews Sisters after meeting professional baseball player and Apalachicola native Jimmy Bloodworth.  Crosby was partial owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates and met Bloodworth in 1946, when he played for the Pirates.  When asked where he was from, Bloodworth said, “Apalachicola, F-L-A!”  The song was used in the move “The Road to Rio” starring Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.

For your listening enjoyment, Bing Crosby singing Apalachicola, F-L-A.

There are so many things to see and do in Apalachicola, one trip isn’t enough.  Two trips probably aren’t enough either.  History, food, shopping and so much more await the Florida explorer in all of us.

Photo Gallery from Apalachicola

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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.