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Things to Do:
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
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