By Vickie Ferguson
Florida Light Houses
The tall towers and shining beacons of lighthouses made traveling the Florida coastlines in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of
Mexico a safer journey for early travelers. Today, many of the same lighthouses that withstood the ravages of time and the Civil War serve as silent sentinels guiding the way home.
History
The Pensacola Lighthouse, first constructed in 1824 and replaced in 1858, is the oldest lighthouse in Florida. It is located at the Pensacola Naval Air Station and maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Benefits
Operational lighthouses are equipped with beacons using high-powered Fresnel lens that emit fixed beams or intermittent flashes. Ships and boaters use the beacon for navigation purposes.
Identification
Sanibel Lighthouse
Construction materials include iron, brick, stucco, oyster shells, concrete and stone. Structures are solid conical or hexagonal designs, square pyramidal frames or octagonal frames with cylinders in the center.
Features
Florida lighthouses vary in height, ranging between 45 to 190 feet, and are painted in solid colors, multiple colors or a pattern of stripes or spirals.
Considerations
Museums with exhibits, photos and historical information along with tours allowing access to the lighthouses are available.
Resources
About the Author:
Ferguson began freelancing in 1998 and hasn't put the pen down since. Her editorial stints have included working as a reviewer, managing editor and senior managing editor. She writes for several websites and covers a range of topics, including travel guides, gardening, home decor, crafts, pets and wildlife. Ferguson specializes in flower craft articles and has worked in the flower craft business for some time.
Photo Credits:
Andre Bogaert, Milissa Thompson
