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Florida Lighthouses

Sombrero Key
Florida Keys

Sombrero Key

Off Marathon
Sombrero Key Lighthouse has towered above the reef south of Marathon since 1858. The 149-foot iron structure endured generations of hurricanes and isolated keepers, and today it is best seen by boat, plane, or from the shores of Sombrero Beach.
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At a Glance

Region
Florida Keys
Type
Historic Lighthouse
Latitude
24.62794
Longitude
-81.11094

Sombrero Key


Photo: Stan Beckstom		 Active: Yes

Characteristics: Five-group flashing white every 60-seconds with three red sectors.

Height: 156 feet, 133 steps

DayMark: Brown, octagonal, pyramidal skeletal tower

Lens: Original: First-order fixed Fresnel lens; Henry-LePaute 1858. Present: Veg VRB-25 rotating beacon. Focal Plane: 142 feet.

Construction: Builders: George Gordon Meade.  I. P. Morris company in Philadelphia fabricated the ironwork.  Screwpile, skeletal tower constructed of wrought iron and wood.

Coordinates:
     24 37 36 N
     81 06 36 W

Operated by: United States Coast Guard

Visit Status: Closed to public

Facilities: None, no handicap access

Visitor Info: Approachable by boat from Marathon and can be seen from land at Sombrero Beach State Park. The Florida Keys Reef Lights Foundation has been formed to promote the establishment of a lighthouse museum with future lighthouse tours and access.

Contact Info:
Florida Keys Reef Lights Foundation, Inc
1067 Drift Creek Cove
Orlando, FL  32828

Email: Info@ReefLights.org
Website: www.ReefLights.org

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Overview

Sombrero Key Lighthouse is a tall skeletal iron tower standing directly on the reef several miles south of Marathon. Its red framework once supported a keeper’s dwelling and a first-order Fresnel lens high above one of the busiest passages through the Florida Keys.

History

The Lighthouse Board replaced an inadequate lightship at Sombrero Key with a permanent tower designed by George Meade. Completed and first lighted in 1858, the station carried a first-order Fresnel lens and housed keepers above the sea. Hurricanes repeatedly damaged ladders, platforms, and boats, making service hazardous. The lighthouse was electrified in 1938 and automated in 1960, ending the era of resident keepers. The Fresnel lens was removed in 1982 and is now displayed at Key West Lighthouse. The historic light was deactivated in 2015 when a nearby modern aid took over.

Visiting & Access

Distant views are possible from Sombrero Beach and near the eastern end of Seven Mile Bridge. The best views come by boat or plane, and local snorkeling operators visit the surrounding marine sanctuary. The lighthouse is closed and cannot be climbed.

Current Status

Sombrero Key Lighthouse is privately owned and no longer serves as the official aid to navigation. A separate automated light marks the reef. The historic tower remains closed, with access limited to viewing from the surrounding water.

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