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Florida Lighthouses

St. Johns River Lighthouse
Northeast Region

St. Johns River Lighthouse

Jacksonville
Constructed in 1858. First Lighted January 1, 1859. Deactivated 1929. Tower was repainted by the Navy in 2000.
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At a Glance

Region
Northeast Region
Type
Historic Lighthouse
Latitude
30.39355
Longitude
-81.42599

St. Johns River Lighthouse


 Active: No

Characteristics: Fixed white with a red sector.

Height: 80 feet, 90 steps

DayMark: Red-washed conical brick tower with white lantern

History: Constructed in 1858. First Lighted January 1, 1859. Deactivated 1929. Tower was repainted by the Navy in 2000.

Lens: Original: Third-order fixed Fresnel lens. Focal plane: 77 feet.

Construction: Contruction: brick conical tower; foundation: brick.

Operated by: United States Navy

Visit Status: Viewable from outside the perimeter fence of the Mayport Naval Station.

Facilities: None, no handicap access

Visitor Info: The tower is located on the Mayport Naval Station and is not open to the public. A good view of this lighthouse can be seen from the road east from the Mayport ferry.

Contact:
Mayport Lighthouse Association, Inc.
4610 Ocean Street
Mayport Village, FL  32233

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Overview

St. Johns River Lighthouse is a 72-foot conical brick tower standing within Naval Station Mayport. Its unpainted red masonry and white lantern distinguish it from the nearby modern St. Johns Lighthouse, which took over the area’s active navigational role.

History

The first lighthouse at the river mouth was built in 1830 but quickly became vulnerable to erosion. A second tower followed in the 1830s, and the present third lighthouse was completed farther inland in 1858, displaying its third-order Fresnel lens for the first time on January 1, 1859. River jetties gradually moved the effective entrance farther from the station. A lightship began serving offshore, and the old lighthouse was discontinued in 1931. The surrounding land later became part of Naval Station Mayport, whose runway and security perimeter isolated the tower from normal public access.

Visiting & Access

The best close view is inside Naval Station Mayport, where access is normally limited to authorized visitors. From outside the base, the tower can be seen through fencing near the Mayport riverfront and ferry area. The grounds and tower are closed without Navy permission.

Current Status

Naval Station Mayport owns the inactive lighthouse. It has no optic and does not serve as an aid to navigation. Preservation and possible relocation have been discussed, but the tower remains on the secured base with no regular public access.

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