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Florida Lighthouses

Cape St. George
Panhandle Region

Cape St. George

St. George Island
Constructed in 1852. First Lighted 1852. Deactivated in mid 1994. On National Register Listing. Restored as a private aid to navigation by the Coast Guard on November 1, 2009.
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At a Glance

Region
Panhandle Region
Type
Historic Lighthouse
Latitude
29.66316
Longitude
-84.86284

Cape St. George

The Leaning Tower


Photo: Alice D'Amicol

Straightened, But Decaying

Photo: Gordon Levi

Cape St. George October 21, 2005


Newly Rebuilt

Photo: Stan Beckstrom

 Active: Yes, November through April (Off May through October to accommodate the nesting sea turtles per the U. S. Coast Guard)

Characteristics: Flashing white every 6-seconds (1977-1994).  Reactivated November 1, 2009 by the U. S. Coast Guard.

Height: 74 feet

DayMark: White conical tower with black lantern

History: Constructed in 1852. First Lighted 1852. Deactivated in mid 1994. On National Register Listing.  Restored as a private aid to navigation by the Coast Guard on November 1, 2009.

Lens: Original: Fifteen fixed Lewis lamps with sixteen-inch reflectors; Winslow Lewis (1843). Third-order fixed Fresnel lens; Sautter et Cie (1857). 2009-Present: VLB-44 LED beacon manufactured by Vega Industries Limited in New Zealand.

Focal Plane: 72 feet.

Range: 13 nautical miles.

Construction: Builder: Edward Bowden. Conical Brick tower constructed of brick and iron.

Visit Status: The lighthouse was rebuilt on St. George Island and is easily accessible at the end of the causeway.

Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday -- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday -- 12 noon to 5 p.m.

Fees are: Adults -- $5.00. Youth under age 16 -- $3.00, Under age 6 -- No Charge

Facilities: Gift shop and small museum.

Visitor Info: Was listed as Florida’s most endangered and leaning lighthouse.  Located on Little St. George Island it was accessible only by boat. Was righted during the summer of 2000 with a new foundation, but due to continuing erosion the lighthouse collapsed in October 2005. The materials were salvaged and the lighthouse was rebuilt on St. George Island and reopened to the public in the fall of 2008.

Contact:
St. George Lighthouse Association
Dennis Barnell
201 Bradford Street
St. George Island, Fl. 32328

Email: dbarnell@mchsi.co
Web Site:  www.StGeorgeLight.org

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Overview

Cape St. George Lighthouse stands at the center of St. George Island, facing the Gulf of Mexico. The 72-foot brick tower is a faithful reconstruction of the nineteenth-century lighthouse formerly located on nearby Little St. George Island and includes material recovered after its collapse.

History

The first lighthouse in the area was built in 1833 near West Pass. A second tower was erected farther east in 1848 but was destroyed by a hurricane three years later. Its 1852 replacement served for more than a century before being deactivated in 1994. Erosion exposed the foundation, and despite stabilization work the tower collapsed on October 21, 2005. Island residents salvaged bricks from the Gulf, raised funds, and reconstructed the lighthouse at a safer site using historic drawings. The new tower opened in 2008 and was lighted in 2009.

Visiting & Access

The lighthouse is easy to reach near the end of the bridge on St. George Island. A museum and gift shop occupy the reconstructed keeper’s house, and the tower is normally open for climbing. Check the St. George Lighthouse Association for hours, special full-moon climbs, and weather closures.

Current Status

The St. George Lighthouse Association operates the reconstructed station as a museum and community landmark. A modern light shines from the lantern, and the grounds, museum, and tower are generally open to visitors on a regular schedule.

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