Florida's Lighthouses
In 1898, St. Augustine's lighthouse was used as a lookout tower in the Spanish-American War. The light keeper of St. Augustine's served as the lookout and had signal flags and a telephone line that ran to the customs house to send an alert if needed.
Likewise, the lighthouse had an involvement in both World Wars. It was dimmed in World War I so as not to aid German U-boats in finding American ships to sink.
In World War II, the tower was used as a lookout as a team of light keepers worked around the clock from the top of the tower.
More recently, a nearly century-long lease agreement with St. Johns County was signed with the Junior Service League of St. Augustine in 1982, and the massive restoration of St. Augustine Lighthouse was undertaken to restore the lighthouse to its former glory. This process started with the Junior Service League obtaining placement for this grand lighthouse on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today the U.S. Coast Guard tends to this lighthouse, which is still an active guide to navigation.
Plan a visit to St. Augustine!
Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse
Some fun facts:
It is the tallest lighthouse in Florida at 175 feet tall.
Visited by over 100,000 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 12 miles south of Daytona Beach and are open to the public year round.
It was finished being built in 1887 and it stands today as one of the best preserved, most complete Light Stations in the nation.
Click here to learn more
Plan a visit to Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse
Now that you have learned about two of the neatest lighthouses in Florida, you'll have to take a trip. When you are there, maybe you can check out some of the other lighthouses too. Click on the picture of Cape Florida Lighthouse for more information!
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