• Things to Do: Area Lighthouses: St. Marks Lighthouse





    History: Construction of the original St. Marks Lighthouse was begun in 1829 and completed in 1831. The lighthouse survived the Second Seminole Indian War in 1835, but in 1842 erosion threatened and original builder Winslow Lewis was given a contract to move the tower to a safer location. A new tower was constructed on a site farther inland. In the 1860’s the Civil War posed a new threat to the lighthouse. The Confederates attempted to blow it up during their retreat in 1865 in order to deny it as a lookout for the Union forces. Though they were unsuccessful in destroying the tower, the damaged inflicted was substantial, necessitating a complete rebuild immediately following the war. At this time the tower was heightened to its present focal plane of 82 feet above sea level, and the original lighting apparatus was restored. The Lighthouse was automated in 1960 and remains today an active aid to navigation for vessels on the Apalachee Bay.

    Directions: The St. Marks Lighthouse is located at the terminus of County Road 59, south of U.S. Highway 98 at Newport, Florida, within the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. It is roughly 1 ½ hours east of Apalachicola and 40 minutes south of Tallahassee.

    Amenities: The St. Marks Lighthouse is located within a 70,000 acre wildlife refuge. There are hiking trails, a Visitor Center open 7 days a week, restrooms, picnic area, and several observation decks for wildlife/ wildland viewing and photography. The lighthouse is a National Historic Site.

    Hours: Currently the St. Marks Lighthouse is owned by the U.S. Coast Guard. The Refuge gets permission to open it about twice a year for special events, such as Florida Lighthouse Day. The Refuge anticipates transfer of the Lighthouse to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 2009, so please call 850-925-6121 for current status.

    Contact:
    St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
    1255 Lighthouse Rd.
    St. Marks, FL 32355
    850-925-6121

    Website: www.fws.gov/saintmarks/lighthouse.html