Key Biscayne

Cape Florida Lighthouse on Key Biscayne

Please note the following is info that I gathered from the Key-Biscayne web site so that you may better understand this area.Pictures that are not mine are properly identified.
In 1825, the Cape Florida Lighthouse was built to serve as an important link in this network of navigational aids. The lighthouse is the oldest building in south Florida. With the outbreak of the Second Seminole War in 1835, bloody encounters between the Seminole Indians and settlers to the area spread throughout the peninsula.
By July of 1836, the threat of attack had caused the settlers to flee the mainland and take up temporary residence on one of the better-protected keys to the south. Late in the afternoon of July 23, 1836, the Cape Florida Lighthouse was attacked and severely damaged by fire. The Assistant Lighthouse Keeper miraculously survived and was rescued by the crew of a Navy schooner. His helper, however, was killed. The lighthouse remained out of service for the balance of the Second Seminole War which ended in 1842. By 1846, Congress had appropriated $23,000 for reconstruction of the lighthouse. On April 30, 1847, Cape Florida Lighthouse was “re-lit” for the first time. In 1855, the height of the structure was increased from 65 to 95 feet and a 2nd Order Fresnel lens was installed.In 1861, Confederate sympathizers removed the lamps and burners and smashed the crucial center prism so it could not be used as an aid to Union sailor who controlled the surrounding waters. The lighthouse was repaired and re-lit again in 1866.

Finally, when nearby Fowey Rocks Light was placed into service in 1878, the lens and illuminating apparatus atop the lighthouse were removed and shipped to Staten Island, NY. Named after the late Miami newspaper editor who championed this area for a state park, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area is part of a large barrier island ecosystem. Following Hurricane Andrew in 1992, an extensive restoration program was undertaken.

Friends wanted to visit Miami and inquired as to the directions. As my days off where the next two days I asked if I could accompany them as I would like to go and take a few of photos. Everyone who knows me knows that I am happy with a camera in my hands. They graciously invited me to go with them.

I looked on the internet at Key Biscayne, an area that seems to get missed by the joy riders. (Probably happily to the wealthy inhabitants) . I wanted photos of the Lighthouse and Stiltsville.

When we arrived we found out that we were in time to get a tour of the lighthouse. The tours are given daily at 10AM and again at 1PM.

The first page shows various pictures of the lighthose and the second page is about Stiltsville.

The tour was limited to the first twenty people and luckily there was only about twenty people so we started with a historic summary of the lighthouse and then entered the lighthouse. You can see the picture I took from the bottom looking up the spiral of stairs. There are 109 steps. The steps are iron and a reproduction of the original steps.They are bolted to a center pole and the higher you climb the more they sway.

There are two windows as you climb facing different directions.Just before the top there is an observation deck which goes outside the lighthouse . The catwalk is only about two feet wide so I think it would have been better if the tour guide had directed the group to walk in a clockwise direction as we seemed to go in two different directions and as a result had to sueeze pass each other at some point. The view was great as there are view viewing places in South Florida of any height. To the south we could see Stiltsville,( more about that on the next page) I was disappointed that the Park service seemed reluctant to point it out.

To the West was Miami and to the Northwest was Miami beach.

Below us to the north was the Bill Baggs State Park Beach. and of course to the East was the Atlantic ocean and you could see the Foley Rocks lighthouse. Foley Rocks lighthouse is an unmaned lighthouse that actually replaced this one.

Looking up the spiraling staircase.

The first window looking out towards the Atlantic ocean

View of Stiltsville from second window near the top of the lighthouse.

View of Stiltsville from the walkway at the top of the lighthouse.

View of the beach from the inside top of the lighthouse .The windows are salted from the constant winds blowing on shore. You can just see a corner of Miami Beach in the upper left hand corner.

After I came down the stairs I walked along the sea wall and took two other pictures of the lighthouse.

Before we left Bill Baggs State Park we stopped for a light meal at "No Name Harbor". This little harbor is just on the inside of Biscayne Bay when approached from the Atlantic Ocean. It is a anchoring place and protected from the ocean.The picture below of the cafe was not taken by me.

Go back to the top and follow the link to the next page. Click on Stiltsville.