Coastal lights

2016 VOL. 1

Coastal

Lights Light of a Lifetime

FLORI DA LI G HTHOUS ES

Unwind and relax while sight seeing fascinating lighthouses

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR I often wondered why people like lighthouses. The reason I enjoy lighthouses is because I enjoy the various architecture of the lighthouses. For me, a lighthouse symbolizes a guide. It stands for strength, safety, and guidance. I suspect that lighthouses appeal especially to introverts like me, who need to make strategic withdrawals from the social world but also want to retain some basic link with humanity. This publication is being created out of my love for lighthouses and their elegance. I have a personal interest in lighthouses and desire to travel and photograph lighthouses throughout the course of my life. I admire the numerous types of architecture of lighthouses. My favorite lighthouse is the Cape Florida Lighthouse in Key Biscayne, Florida.

This is the only lighthouse I have ever visited. After reaching the top of the lighthouse it is thrilling to see the view of the land and sea. The view is to die for and I plan to return to this lighthouse and visit many more in the future.

Sincerely, Sarah Linderer

1

Contents 8 13

11

1 Letter From the Editor

Lighthouses and their elegance

4 Florida Lighthouses

Three dozen lighthouses

Florida’s different regions

5 Departments 6 Contributors

Our crew this issue

8 St. Augustine Lighthouse

Breath taking views of Northeast Florida

Toppled into the Gulf of Mexico

11 St. George Lighthouse

15

19 21 17

13 Ponce De Leon Lighthouse

Florida’s tallest lighthouse

15 Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse

A pathway to history

17 Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse

Northern limit of the Florida reef# 19 Key West Lighthouse

Southern most island#

21 Cape Florida Lighthouse

First seacoast lighthouse in Florida# #

22 Florida Lighthouse Facts

5 facts

3

Florida Lighthouses Florida has by far the longest coastline of any state of the eastern United States. For visibility at a distance, the Florida coast requires tall lighthouses. Florida has about three dozen traditional lighthouses, including several of the country’s most famous light towers. Lighthouses played a critical role in Florida’s history; making it possible to explore, settle and develop Florida by using its 1350 miles of coastline. Only 30 lighthouses remain today. A 2002 study done by the State of Florida estimates that it will take almost $20 million dollars to preserve these towers.

Regions Northwest Florida

Now, in the age of global positioning systems and other navigational devices, the lighthouses serve primarily as tourist attractions, though some of these flashing beacons still aid boat captains. All four are available to visitors, though to varying degrees, and all are within easy drives of Tallahassee or Panama City.

Northeast Florida

You can see a long way from the top of lighthouses in Northeast Florida. Gulls wheel in the cloudless sky. To the north sit ranks of tourist-filled Daytona Beach hotels and condos, while just to the south, past the surfers and the nature area, are the less-congested shores of New Smyrna Beach. And way off in the distance, past the swimmers and sun-seekers, kite-flyers and beach-walkers, you can just barely pick out the massive structures of Kennedy Space Center.

Central Florida

Here along the coastline, lighthouse fans and sightseers are in for a real Florida experience.

With so many miles of coastline, Florida once had a number of lighthouses along its shorelines on the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Many of these sentinels, built to protect seagoing vessels from grounding, are gone now, but a few remain as physical reminders of Florida’s rich maritime history. Some of them have become famous because of folklore or their role in history, and a few of them are open to the public.

South Florida

Get a birds-eye view of South Florida from its lighthouses. Like towering beacons that dot the coast, South Florida’s lighthouses beckon tourists and locals to come inside. Besides being architectural jewels, these giants tell stories, having guided mariners for more than 100 years into safe harbor. These structures also stand out for their picturesque backdrops, which have been used for weddings, proposals, even selfies.

5

Contributors Editor in Chief

Sarah Linderer slinderer1@gmail.com

Creative Director

Megan Puentes mpuentes@gmail.com

Assistant Creative Director Carrie Lee carrielee1@gmail.com

Associate Editor Monica Lazalier mlazalier1 @gmail.com

Photographers

Adobe Stock Licensed Images

Publisher

Al Faust alfaust1@gmail.com

Writers

Anna Matecki annamatecki@gmail.com James Longman jlongman@gmail.com

Northeast Florida

ST. AUGUST INE, FLORIDA 7

Change Your Perspective of the Past America’s history will never look the same after a visit to the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. From the breathtaking views of Northeast Florida to the artifacts recovered from our ancestors’ vessels, the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum covers centuries of history from in and around St. Augustine, Florida.

steps to the top of the St. Augustine Lighthouse for a spectacular view of the city and ocean. Walk through and experience the triumphant history of this lighthouse in the Keeper’s House museum, stroll

The St. Augustine Light Station is an active lighthouse in St. Augustine, Florida. The current lighthouse stands at the north end of Anastasia Island and was built in 1874; it is the most recent of a number of towers built in the area. The tower is owned by the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum, Inc. a not-for-profit maritime museum and private aid-to-navigation. Open to the public, admission fees support continued preservation of the Lighthouse and fund programs in maritime archaeology and education.

The St. Augustine Lighthouse serves as a scenic and educational museum. It stands 165 feet above sea level, overlooking the Matanzas Bay and the Atlantic Ocean from Anastasia Island. Visitors can climb the 219

The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum is dedicated to the preservation of the past and keeping alive the story of the nation’s oldest port. By offering educational opportunities, many local and national preservation efforts, maritime archaeological research, and safeguarding the memories and priceless artifacts of the past the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum have maintained the status of the lighthouse through the years.

Exploring the St. Augustine Lighthouse

the picturesque grounds, or enjoy one of the many different guided tours offered to St. Augustine visitors. There is also a gift shop open to the public where visitors can pick from a unique array of lighthouse souvenirs.

While I have visited the lighthouse a few times in the past, this visit marked the first time I climbed the 219 stairs to the top. The view was absolutely breathtaking – worth every bit of the climb. I especially loved seeing the Atlantic Ocean from the top of the lighthouse. Don’t forget your camera – you’ll love the views. Also, be sure to stop and read the exhibits located on each landing within the lighthouse stairwell – Florida history comes alive.

- Carren McLaren

NORTHERN FLORIDA

Light House Keeper Every Tuesday morning before the sun leaves the Atlantic horizon line for its daily arc across the sky, volunteers Mike Horner and Dennis Tisher climb the 219 steps to the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum’s lens room for their weekly appointment with history. With practiced precision and methodical work, the pair execute a checklist provided by the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure that the 140 year-old 1st order Fresnel lens is prop- properly cleaned and inspected. From the wheels, motor and gears that turn the two-ton, nine-and-a-half foot tall lens to each of the 370 individual prisms, the duo ensures that preservation standards are met to extend the life of this historical treasure.

“When I came to volunteer here eleven years ago, I wanted to fulfill whatever the lighthouse needed and they told me they needed someone to be the back-up lens keeper,” - Horner.

At the time, another volunteer named Paul Wilcox was maintaining the lens, but decided to try a different volunteer teer position at the lighthouse.

Horner was trained by the U.S. Coast Guard and took over for Wilcox when he retired from as the lens keeper.

Tisher joined the team a few years later. As a former electrician , retired from Northrup Grumman, he’s been working around machines his whole life. “He’s a Godsend to have,” said Horner. “If anything breaks down, he can fix it.”

The St. Augustine Light Station has a rich and expansive history dating back to the beginning of its construction in 1871 and has seen as many changes over the last 140 years. From the use of lard oil to kerosene and eventually electricity, the Saint Augustine Lighthouse has stood the test of time through dramatic changes in technology, two world wars, and even earthquakes.

Though the tower itself is built to be resilient, it would not be standing today if it were not for the men and women who have invested their time, money, and effort into re- storing and maintaining one of Florida’s most historically iconic landmarks.

Every day, site manager Brenna Ryan walks the light station grounds, checklist in hand. It is Ryan’s responsibility to communicate with maintenance technicians David Popp and Dennis Miller in order to determine the agenda for the day and to make sure that the protocols set forth by the U.S. Coast Guard are being followed.

9

Northwest Florida

“Stepping ou all directions the conversa who gave us soon came to feet of their we finally ca leaning towe

E AST POIN T, F L

St. George The Cape St. George Light is a 72-foot high brick lighthouse which had originally stood for 153 years on St. George Island, Florida, until toppling into the Gulf of Mexico October 22, 2005. The pieces of the lighthouse were retrieved, and in April 2008, the light’s restoration was completed. It’s 92 pine stairs and eight iron ladder steps to the lantern room of the Cape St. George Light.

The masonry lighthouse was built in 1833, rebuilt in 1848 and 1852, and, in 2008, relocated to the center of St. George Island and rebuilt using new and original materials, including 22,000 original bricks. Once at the top, stop to catch your breath and take in the sweeping Apalachicola Bay and Gulf of Mexico views.

In a dramatic team effort involving private contractors, local volunteers, and government funding, the pieces of the Light were salvaged and moved to a storage site on the mainland. The St. George Lighthouse Association acquired the 1852 plans from the National Archives and led the effort to reconstruct the lighthouse on St. George Island. Volunteers gathered on weekends to carefully clean the old mortar off the salvaged bricks, and more than 22,000 original bricks were used in the rebuilding effort. Original granite door jambs and

ut into the surf to cool our feet, we looked in s but still saw no lighthouse. Remembering ation back at the dock, I thought the man directions had said to go left. We did and o a forest of pine trees with four to five roots exposed from beach erosion. Then ame upon the spectacular sight of this er”.

window lintels were re-installed in the reconstructed lighthouse. The iron lantern room, twisted beyond hope in the fall, was reforged using the original pieces as patterns. With extensive community support and public and private funding, the Cape St. George Light was successfully rebuilt and opened to the public on December 1, 2008.

The Cape St. George Lighthouse was one of the more interesting adventures I had in visiting Florida lighthouses. Not having done my homework as I should have before my wife Sarah and I arrived, I quickly found out that my car would be of no use in getting to the lighthouse. Fortunately, we were towing our boat.

Unfortunately, our boat is only twelve feet long, and the lighthouse is nine miles offshore.

At Apalachicola, I asked a man by the boat ramp to point the way, since the lighthouse was not visible and the island was barely visible. We put in the water and headed for the island, having to negotiate every wave with caution, which made for a long and exhausting excursion.

A slightly larger boat would have done just fine; we were a little undersized and underpowered. After what seemed like forever, we finally landed on the protected back side of St. George Island, where the water was calm and smooth. The lighthouse was still not visible even after we landed. That required a two-mile walk across the island, then south down the beach. The fine powdery sand path made walking difficult. Add to that the intense heat of the sun, and the trek was less than comfortable. If we hadn’t traveled so far in that little aluminum boat of ours, I might have had the notion to turn back before we fell victims to heatstroke, but our persistence finally paid off. We came to a small dune and just beyond saw the blue gulf waters breaking up on the unspoiled beach.

11

Central Florida

PONCE INLE T, FL

Ponce De Leon

Lighthouse Florida’s Tallest Lighthouse Visited by over 170,000 people each year, the Ponce De Leon Inlet Light Station was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1998. The lighthouse tower and museum are located 10 miles south of Daytona Beach and are open to the public year round. The lighthouse is close to Orlando attractions, historic St. Augustine, and the Kennedy Space Center. The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in Florida and the second tallest masonry lighthouse in the country second only to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Visitors can climb 203 steps to the top of the 175 foot tower and enjoy magnificent views of the World’s Most Famous Beach, Ponce Inlet, and surrounding inland waterways from the lighthouse gallery deck. The Ponce De Leon Inlet Lighthouse and Museum is located 10 miles south of Daytona Beach in the Town of Ponce Inlet. Situated on the north bank of Ponce Inlet where the Halifax and Indian Rivers flow into the Atlantic Ocean, the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and Museum is a must see for anyone interested in Florida, maritime, or local history. The lighthouse keepers’ dwellings and other historic light station buildings are now home to our lighthouse museum, which features exhibits on the United States Lighthouse Service and its airways division, Daytona Beach and Florida history, lighthouse and Fresnel lens restoration, lighthouse keepers and their families, and the United States Life-Saving Service.

The Ayers Davies Lens Exhibit Building houses one of the finest collections of restored Fresnel lenses in the world, including the rotating first order Fresnel lens from Walk inside the white picket the Cape Canaveral lighthouse and the restored original fence and step back in time.

Ponce Inlet lighthouse first order Fresnel lens. Enjoy Maintained and operated by the spectacular, 360-degree views of the Atlantic Ocean, Ponce De Leon Inlet Lighthouse the inter coastal Waterway and more! Completed in 1887, the Ponce De Leon Inlet Lighthouse is a fascinating piece Preservation Association, this of Florida history. It towers above others as the tallest beautiful facility represents one lighthouse in Florida. This majestic facility, tucked away in of the best preserved and most the charming town of Ponce Inlet, stretches 175 feet into authentic historic light stations the sky. Feeling adventurous? Climb the 203 steps to the in the nation today. Visitors top for some truly breathtaking scenery and one-of-awill agree that the Ponce Inlet kind photo opportunities. The lush, surrounding grounds Lighthouse and Museum offers a feature a wealth of historical and nautical treasures. treasure-trove of sights, sounds, Ponce Inlet Lighthouse’s on-site museum features a and experiences for young and rare Fresnel Lens exhibit, artifacts on lighthouse life, shipwrecks, a gift shop and more. old alike.

13

South Florida

JUPITER, FL

The Pathway to History The Jupiter Inlet Light is located in Jupiter, Florida, on the north side of the Jupiter Inlet. The site for the lighthouse was chosen in 1853. It is located between Cape Canaveral Light and Hillsboro Inlet Light. The lighthouse was designed by then Lieutenant George G. Meade of the Bureau of Topographical Engineers.

Meade’s design was subsequently modified by Lieutenant William Raynolds.

The lighthouse was built on a hill once thought to be an Indian shell mound or midden (and sometimes falsely rumored to be a burial mound), but which is now determined to be a natural parabolic sand dune. The top of the 105-foot tower is 153 feet above sea level. The light can be seen 24 nautical miles at sea. The lighthouse structure is brick with double masonry walls. The outer wall is conical, tapering from eight bricks thick at ground level to three bricks thick at base of lantern. The inner wall is cylindrical and two bricks thick throughout. Circumference at base is about 65 feet and at the top about 43 feet.

The lighthouse was painted red in 1910 to cover discoloration caused by humidity. Hurricane Jeanne in 2004 sandblasted the paint from the upper portion of the tower, and the tower was repainted using a potassium silicate mineral coating.

The most notable landmark is the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, completed in 1860. Made of brick, it was painted red in 1910 to cover discoloration caused by humidity. The lighthouse is often used as the symbol for Jupiter.

“Although we probably would not build one like it today because of the cost and technological advances in radio navigation, the existing lighthouse is no less important today than when it was first built. There are still many seaman who depend on it for safe navigation.”

- Charles Kemnitz

15

South Florida

“I love and it lan

HILLSBORO FL HILL SBORO BE ACH, FL

Hillsboro Inlet Hillsboro Mile Hillsboro Inlet Light is located on the north side of Hillsboro Inlet, midway between Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton, in Hillsboro Beach, Florida. The light marks the northern limit of the Florida Reef, an underwater coral formation on the lower east coast of the state. The city of Lighthouse Point in Broward County, Florida, United States was named after the Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse.

The historic landmark is situated on the southern tip of the barrier island, which is also know as the Hillsboro Mile or Millionaire’s Mile. In 1901, the United States Lighthouse Establishment persuaded Congress to authorize the construction of a lighthouse in the dark area between Jupiter Inlet Light and Fowey Rocks Light. In the second half of the 20th century, this inlet became an increasingly busy waterway. Hillsboro Inlet Light is considered one of the most powerful lights in the world with a beam that can be seen for 28 nautical miles. Unlike many lighthouses that have solid exteriors, this lighthouse is surrounded by a scaffold-like frame. The lighthouse is operated by the United States

e the history of lighthouses t is a privilege to have this ndmark in our community.”

- Peggy Warner

Coast Guard. The tower and grounds are not open to the public except by special arrangement with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society on eight tour days spread throughout the year.

The lighthouse can be clearly viewed from across the inlet at Hillsboro Inlet Park on SR A1A in Pompano Beach. About 2 miles north of Pompano Beach you are afforded a beautiful view across Hillsboro Inlet to this lighthouse, often called the brightest lighthouse in the Southeast and used by mariners as a landmark for decades. When at sea you can see its light from almost halfway to the Bahamas.

Enjoy a guided tour of the historic Hillsboro Lighthouse and grounds. Climb the stairs to the top, and enjoy the incredible view. Spot marine life swimming in the ocean below. Walk along the beach in the steps of the “Barefoot Mailman”. Relax on a scenic cruise through the world famous “Millionaire Mile” as the captain points out the magnificent mansions and mega yachts along the way.

The Big Diamond Although the octagonal-pyramid, ironskeletal tower lighthouse is on private property and inaccessible to the public. owed to the structure’s distinctive shape of a peek, even from afar. Its nickname, the Big Diamond, is glass outside its lantern room.

The lighthouse is in good homes valued over ten million dollars. The Big Diamond’ is the nickname of our lighthouse. It comes from the shape of the glass on the outside of the lantern room. Each piece of glass is in the shape of a diamond. If you haven’t noticed before, take a look at any picture with enough detail and you’ll see for yourself. Visiting the Hillsboro inlet lighthouse is great fun for the whole family!

17

South Florida

KE Y WEST, FL

Key West

Lighthouse White Sandy Beach The Key West lighthouse is located in Key West, Florida. The first Key West lighthouse was a 65-foot tower completed in 1825. It had 15 lamps in 15-inch reflectors. The first keeper, Michael Mabrity, died in 1832, and his widow, Barbara, became the lighthouse keeper, serving for 32 years. The Great Havana Hurricane of 1846 destroyed the lighthouse; the USS Morris, which was wrecked during the storm, reported “a white sand beach covers the spot where Key West Lighthouse stood”.

Barbara Mabrity survived, but fourteen people who had sought refuge in the lighthouse tower died, including seven members of her family. (The same hurricane destroyed the Sand Key Lighthouse, eight miles away, killing six people, including the keeper, Rebecca Flaherty, another widow of a previous keeper.) Barbara Mabrity continued to serve as keeper of the Key West Light until the early 1860s, when she was fired at age 82 for making statements against the Union (Key West remained under Union control throughout the Civil War).

As both lighthouses serving Key West had been destroyed in the 1846 hurricane, a ship, the Honey, was acquired and outfitted as a lightship to serve as the Sand Key Light until new lighthouses could be built. Due to efforts to reorganize the Lighthouse Board, Congress was slow to appropriate funds for the new lighthouses. The new tower for the Key West Light was completed in 1848.

It was 50 feet tall with 13 lamps in 21-inch reflectors, and stood on ground about 15 feet

above sea level. In 1858 the light received a third order Fresnel lens. In 1873 the lantern was replaced (it had been damaged by a hurricane in 1866), adding three feet to the height of the tower. The growth of trees and taller buildings in Key West began to obscure the light, and in 1894 the tower was raised twenty feet, placing the light about 100 feet above sea level.

After the Coast Guard decommissioned the Key West Light in 1969, it was turned over to Monroe County, which in turn leased it to the Key West Arts and Historical Society.

The society operates the lighthouse and its associated buildings as the Key West Light House and Keeper’s Quarters Museum.

On display at the museum is the first order Fresnel lens from the Sombrero Key lighthouse.

Southern Most Island

Visiting the Key West Lighthouse is not probably the first thing on your list when you think about visiting the southern most island of Key West. It certainly wasn’t mine. But it has enough facts, and interest, and of course a great view to make more than a reasonable trip if you are looking for something to do whilst in Key West.

With a rich history of shipwrecks, reefs, pirates and sunken treasure around the whole of the Florida Keys, and an extremely high commercial value to the seagoing routes through the Florida Keys, the need for having a Key West lighthouse was always one that was required.

19

South Florida

K E Y BISCAYNE, FLORIDA

Cape Florida Proud And Steadfast Like an ancient brick sentinel, the Cape Florida Lighthouse has watched over the coast of South Florida for more than 170 years. It was built in 1825 on the tip of Key Biscayne, a barrier island named by Ponce De Leon in 1513 on his first Light Lifetime expedition to Florida. Key Biscayne marks the spotofofathe first seacoast lighthouse established in Florida. The Cape Florida lighthouse didn’t mark the entrance to a harbor but rather warned coastal shipping of the dangerous offshore reefs. This gently tapered towered has stood proud and steadfast in the face of numerous hurricanes.

The Cape Florida lighthouse is one of the most celebrated landmarks owned by the State of Florida. The historic compound in Bill Baggs State Park and Recreation Area includes the newly restored, 95-foot white-brick tower and a replica of the lighthouse keeper’s 1825 cottage, delighting visitors as well as residents of this subtropical island of Key Biscayne. Graceful coconut palms line the walkway toward the ocean and grand historic monument.

A climb to the lantern room affords a vast panorama of the lush island with its long stretch of sandy beaches and the ever changing tropical seas. Against a background of aquamarine waters, leaping dolphins and giant rays, schools of colorful fishes, occasional sharks, diving pelicans, and other tropical birds may be seen. You will view ships from international ports plying the deep blue of the powerful Gulf Stream, enormous cruise ships on the horizon, and luxury yachts, deep-sea fishing boats, and bobbing sailboats riding the waves.

21

Florida

Lighthouse Facts

2

1

The first light station on Floridas west coast was at Pensacola. It became operational in December 1824.

The first American light station in Florida became operational in St. Augustine on April 5th, 1824.

3

The first light station in the Florida Keys was at Cape Florida. It became operational in December 1825.

4

16 towers and 13 light stations had been built in Florida before it became a state in 1845.

5

The Pensacola lighthouse has the highest light focal plane above sea level of all Florida lighthouses.

21