Inventory of Historic Light Stations--Florida Lighthouses--Key West Light

Inventory of Historic Light Stations
Florida Lighthouses

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KEY WEST LIGHT

State: FLORIDA
Location: WHITEHEADS POINT
Nearest City: KEY WEST
County: MONROE
U.S.C.G. District: 7
Year Station Established: 1825

Photo by Adolph Gucinski, courtesy of Key West Art & Historical Society

Existing Historic Tower:

Year Light First Lit: 1847
Is the Light Operational? NO
Date Deactivated: 1969
Automated: 1915 (USING ACETYLENE SYSTEM)
Foundation Materials: NATURAL EMPLACED
Construction Materials: BRICK
Markings/Patterns: WHITE W/BLACK LANTERN
Shape: CONICAL
Relationship to Other Structures: SEPARATE
Tower Height: 86
Original Optic: 13 ARGAND LAMPS WITH 21-INCH REFLECTORS
Year Original Lens Installed: 1847
Present Optic: 175-WATT HI-TEK M57
Year Present Lens Installed:
Height of Focal Plane: 91
Fresnel Lens Disposition: 1858 "HENRY LEPAUTE" THIRD ORDER LENS INSTALLED 1858

Previous Tower(s):

1. Construction Date: 1825
Description:
Fate/Disposition: DESTROYED BY HURRICANE

Modern Tower? NO

Existing Sound Signal Building? NO

Existing Keepers Quarters? YES

Year Constructed: 1887
Number of Stories: 1
Architectural Style: WEST INDIAN VERNACULAR
Construction Materials: WOOD

Other Structures: CISTERN, REPLICA OIL HOUSE, 2 GARAGES, STORAGE BUILDING, OUTHOUSE (CA. 1887)

Current Use: MUSEUM

Owner/Manager: MONROE COUNTY/KEY WEST ART AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Open to the Public? YES (Go to Lighthouses to Visit for access information)

Web Site: Link

National Register Status: PART OF LISTING; Reference #83001430
Name of Listing: KEY WEST HISTORIC DISTRICT
On State List/Inventory? YES; Year Listed: 1971

Miscellaneous:
TOWER RAISED 20 FEET IN 1894; MONROE COUNTY ACQUIRED DEED IN 1972; RESTORED IN 1988, REOPENED IN 1989

Last Modified: Tues, Mar 05 2002 12:53:02 pm EDT
JMP

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