Key West Lighthouse

Year Built

1825

Cost

N/A

Type

Conical

Height

73 feet

Location

Whiteheads Point in Key West

Automated Year

1915

First Lit

1895

Lens Type

13 Argand lamps with 21-inch (530 mm) reflectors

Fog Signal

None

Year Deactivated

1969

Color

Wghite w/black lantern

Last Keeper - Date

Mary E. Bethel (1908 – 1914)

Description

Visitors can climb the 88 steps to the catwalk for a birds-eye-view of Key West.

Brief History

•  The original light was built in 1825. Construction was approved and would have started in 1824, but the boat carrying Samuel B. Lincoln sunk while on route to Florida from Boston.
•  A third-order Fresnel lens, recently arrived from Paris, was placed in Key West Lighthouse in 1858, where it remains to this day.
•  In 1872, five feet were added to the tower when a new lantern room with narrower mullions was placed atop the lighthouse.
•  In 1887, the present keepers’ dwelling was completed to replace the first keeper’s quarters at the new site.
•  In 1966, the Key West Art and Historical Society was granted control of the dwelling.