13 May - Cape Florida Lighthouse

 

This morning we drove from the campground all the way through Miami,  across the Rickenbacker Causeway to Key Biscayne and the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. 

 At the very end of the State Park sits the Cape Florida Lighthouse.  

Originally built in December 1825, the Cape Florida Lighthouse was constructed to alert ships as they sailed near the Florida Keys. It was a 65 ft tall brick structure with wooden stairs. In the 1846-1847 timeframe the wooden stairs were removed and cast iron stairs installed. In 1855 the lighthouse was extended to 95 ft and the cast iron stairs were extended. A second order Fresnel lens was also installed. According to the records this lighthouse survived Seminole Indian attacks, Confederate sabotage and extremely harsh weather from offshore storms. In 1878 the lighthouse was deactivated and apparently sat abandoned until the State of Florida purchased it in 1966.

From 1968-1970 the lighthouse was renovated and then in 1996 it was restored back to 1855 specifications.  The lighthouse compound appears as if tours were being conducted possibly until COVID.  The compound is open during specific days of the week now, but the lighthouse and the keepers quarters are locked and inaccessible.

The parking lot for the lighthouse also serves a beach area and a Lighthouse Cafe.  

As we walked down the pathway to the lighthouse there are remnants of the old lighthouse on display.  They have obviously put a lot of work into this area.

Because of the palm trees the lighthouse is mostly obscure until you are near the base.  It is a beautiful area full of wildlife that surrounds the lighthouse. 

We were greeted by a blue heron, a coon and several lizard-types!

It was disappointing we were unable to climb this lighthouse.  What a view it would have been!  We walked around the area and enjoyed the view from the ground.  Here are a few more pictures.

A cistern to capture rain water

Outhouse!

A well-restored keepers quarters.

The Cape Florida Lighthouse

The water along the shore is crystal clear here.  We did not go on the beaches but we can only assume they were beautiful also.  

What an awesome setting!

A interesting U.S. Coast Survey Base Marker, dating back to 1855.  Due to erosion, in 1883 it had fallen into Biscayne Bay and laid there until 1988 when it was discovered by some local surveyors and recovered by an Air Force Rescue and Recovery Squadron.

Doreen has a lighthouse "passport" book that she tries to get stamped at each lighthouse we visit.  This can be a real challenge now especially with COVID closures.  But today we were lucky enough to discover the entrance shack for the state park holds the stamp so we stopped in there and documented her passport book!  

That's it for today.  We tried to hit the pool this afternoon but lightning put the kiboshes on that.  Tomorrow is "yet to be determined".  We may do a little shopping and further explore the area.  

Thanks for tagging along on our trip!