St. Augustine Lighthouse

Oct. 17, 2019
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St. Augustine Lighthouse, St. Augustine, Florida

Originally built in 1824, current tower built in 1874.

ST. AUGUSTINE LIGHT

Location: ANASTASIA ISLAND
Station Established: 1821
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1874
Operational? YES
Automated? YES 1955
Deactivated:
Foundation Materials: BRICK ON COQUINA
Construction Materials: BRICK
Tower Height: 52 feet (1st); 165 feet (2nd)
Tower Shape: CONICAL ATTACHED TO STORAGE BLDG.
Markings/Pattern: BLACK/WHITE SPIRAL BANDS W/RED LANTERN
Relationship to Other Structure: ATTACHED
Characteristics: 3 minute fixed flash; in 1936 changed to 30-second flash
Original Lens: First Order Fresnel, 1874

Historical Information:

  • 1824:  An old Spanish watchtower became the first lighthouse in Florida. Lamps from Winslow Lewis were used.
  • 1855:  A fourth order Fresnel lens replaced the old lamps.
  • 1867:  The first lighthouse was relit after the Civil War. During the war Confederate supporters removed the Fresnel lens from the light and hid it.
  • 1871:  Construction of a new lighthouse was started.
  • 1874, 14 October:  The old lighthouse was lit for the last time.
  • 1874, 15 October:  The new lighthouse was lit for the first time.  A first order Fresnel lens with a 3 minute fixed flash was used. Lard oil was used as the fuel to light the lighthouse.
  • 1876:  The keepers moved to the new station.
  • 1878:  The old lighthouse crashed into the sea.
  • 1885:  Kerosene replaced lard oil to light the lighthouse.  A new oil house was built to store the kerosene.
  • 1907:  Indoor plumbing was added to the site.
  • 1925:  Electric lights were installed in the keeper's quarters.
  • 1936:  The light was electrified.  The new characteristic became a 30 second flash.
  • 1955:  The lighthouse was automated and the last keeper retired.
  • 1960:  The keeper's house was declared surplus property and was put up for sale.  The quarters were boarded up and left neglected.
  • 1970:  While negotiations were in progress, the house fell victim to arson. St. John's County purchased the property for $29,000.
  • 1981:  The lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
  • 1982:  The Junior Service League signed a 99 year lease with the county for the keeper's house and surrounding grounds, and a 30 year lease with the Coast Guard to begin a massive restoration effort.
  • 2000, October:  The new visitors center was opened.
  • 2002:  The lighthouse is an official, privately-owned, active aid to navigation. The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum, a not-for-profit organization, owns and maintains the light station.

The above was researched and written by Diane Hackney.
Land Asset Lighthouse