Thank you for stopping in to learn more about the Florida Lighthouse Association. Welcome. In October 2006 we celebrated our tenth year. We started when a group of lighthouse enthusiasts formed the nonprofit, tax exempt 501(c)3 statewide organization in July 1996. Since then the Florida Lighthouse Association has grown and helped save and protect the 30 remaining Florida lighthouses.
Citizens residing near most of the lighthouses have formed preservation groups in their areas to save their lighthouse. The local organizations form the backbone of the Florida Lighthouse Association and were among the founders.
Although six lighthouses have been saved and opened to the public by private, nonprofit organizations, many our lighthouses show signs of neglect and deterioration. One is on the endangered list, and one, Cape St. George, collapsed in 2005. The Florida Lighthouse Association, fulfilling a mission of helping local organizations, provided $15,000 to help with salvage and the beginning of restoration efforts, and later donated $5,000 more for the lantern room restoration.
Join us. You’ll receive a quarterly newsletter, the FLA FLASH, and be able to attend quarterly meetings at various lighthouses throughout the state, some of which are not open to the public. You’ll be contributing to a good cause with the knowledge that the maximum money of your tax-deductible membership and donation goes for the intended purpose. This all volunteer organization has no paid staff, nor are officers reimbursed for travel to meetings or personal expenses. Meetings can be fun, especially with special programs like the tour of Cape Canaveral lighthouse in January 2006 followed by a cruise to the Bahamas and a visit to lighthouses there. You’ll meet some interesting people, all of whom care about preserving our maritime heritage, and make new friends.
The Florida Lighthouse Association kicked off a drive to raise funds for a specialty lighthouse license plate, which in turn will raise funds for accomplishing the lighthouse preservation mission. Your tax-deductible contribution is welcome! Our goal is to boost the funding, influencing, publicizing and educating for Florida lighthouse preservation.
The six lighthouses restored and open to the public include St. Augustine, Ponce de Leon Inlet, Jupiter Inlet, Cape Florida, Key West and Boca Grande. Each publishes scheduled times when you can visit these functional historic buildings and in some cases climb the tower. At some other lighthouses, visitors can walk around the lighthouse grounds but cannot enter the structures, including Sanibel Island, St. Marks, Cape San Blas and others. Some can be viewed only by taking a boat ride.
Our mission statement on the home page tells you our worthwhile and exciting mission.
Act now! Click through and fill out the membership form and join with the more than a thousand members and me in our quest to save our lights. Thank you for visiting our site and your interest in lighthouses. Your opinion matters to us so send me your comments: FLApresident@gmail.com. Thank you.
Stan Farnham