Interesting Facts
The Lighthouse Itself
Height: 82 feet to focal plane; 88 feet total height
There are 85 steps to the top which are made out of cypress
DayMark: Whitewashed conical brick tower with a black lantern
Original Lens: Fifteen Lewis-Argand lamps with fourteen-inch reflectors; Winslow Lewis (1831)
Current Lens: Fourth-order fixed Fresnel lens; Henry-Lepaute (1867). Focal Plane: 82 feet
Construction (first tower): Architect Winslow Lewis. Builder: Benjamin Beal and Jairus Thayer
Construction (second and third towers): Calvin Knowlton. Conical brick tower constructed of brick and iron
Attached keeper’s dwelling was built in 1871
Operated by: United States Coast Guard & St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
U.S.C.G. District: 8
ARLHS No.: USA-801
Coordinates: 30 04 26 N, 84 10 47 W
Listed on the National Register
People and Events
The present tower is the third tower and was built in 1842
The Fresnel lens was removed and hidden from Union troops during the Civil War
The light was re-lit after the Civil War in 1867
Lighthouse Road was built in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
There were 21 lighthouse keepers at St. Marks - 2 were female
J.Y. Gresham was the longest serving keeper - 1918-1949 - 31 years
over 250,000 people visit the lighthouse every year
The St. Marks Lighthouse is the 2nd oldest lighthouse in Florida (the oldest is on Amelia Island)
banner image: Lou Kellenberger