Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse

Year Built

1835

Cost

$11,000

Type

Conical tower

Height

175 feet

Location

Ponce Inlet

Automated Year

1953

First Lit

1887

Lens Type

First order Fresnel lens, 1887-1933, Third order Fresnel lens, 1933-1970 and since 2004

Fog Signal

None

Year Deactivated

1970; reactivated, 1982

Color

Red w/black lantern

Last Keeper - Date

Harry Jones ( – 1952)

Description

The lighthouse and keeper's quarters are open to the public for touring.

Brief History

•  1835, December 26, Seminole Indians attacked the lighthouse, smashing all the glass in the lantern and setting fire to its wooden stairs.
•  1933, The light in the tower was electrified with a 500-watt lamp. The First order lens was replaced with a third order revolving lens.
•  The Coast Guard abandoned the lighthouse in 1970 in favor a steel skeletal light tower located at their station on the south side of the inlet.
•  2000 - 2001, Extensive renovations including the repainting the tower and restoring the lantern room to its original look was completed.
•  2002, The lighthouse and keeper's quarters are open to the public for touring. The keeper's quarters houses an extensive museum collection of lighthouse, sea and local history.