Florida - Boca Grande Range Light

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The Boca Grande Rear Range Light is located on Gasparilla Island along the Gulf, south of Baca Grande, FL.  It was built here in 1932 as part of a range light system. The tower is 105-feet tall, and its light flashes a white signal interrupted by a red flash. The light can be seen for 16-miles out to sea. The cylindrical tube houses a spiral staircase ascending to the lantern room. At the time of my visit here in 2001, this was an active light.

Florida - Sanibel Lighthouse

The Sanibel Lighthouse is located on the East end of Sanibel Island, FL, next to the San Carlos Bay. It was built pyramid style in 1884. The tower stands 98-feet tall and is supported by four metal legs. The cylindrical center column lacks about 20-feet from reaching to the ground. A ladder must be used to access the column. The lantern room houses a third-order Fresnel lens. Originally, the light was fueled by kerosene until 1923 when it was converted to acetylene gas. In 1949 the light was automated.

Since 1950 the U. S. Coast Guard property at the lighthouse has also been a wildlife refuge.

The significance of the Sanibel Lighthouse lies in the regular and reliable service it has provided through its years. At the time of my visit here in 2001, this was still an active light.

Florida - St Johns Light Station

The St Johns Light Station is located at Mayport Naval Air Station, Mayport, FL. It was built in 1954 and is operated by the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy Relief. At the time of my visit here in 2000, this light was active and the station was not open to the public.

Florida - St John River Lighthouse

The St John River Lighthouse is located on the south side of the entrance to Jacksonville, FL in Mayport, FL on the Mayport Naval Air Station. This is the third lighthouse to be built in this vicinity.

The first lighthouse was built in 1830, but was destroyed after five years through storms undermining its foundation. A new tower was built upriver from the original tower in 1835. This tower also was unuseable by the 1850's due to sand dunes forming between the tower and the water line, making the light hard to see by the mariners.

The above lighthouse was built of brick in 1859 at a height of 60-feet. After the Civil War, 15-feet were added to the tower and a third-order Fresnel lens installed. The lighthouse operated until 1929 when it was decommissioned after being replaced by a lightship.

At the time of my visit here in 2000, the light was inactive and the lighthouse closed to the public. Access to the Naval Air Station, to visit the lighthouse, was permitted to those with Military I.D.