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A Day at Key West

We spent a day checking out Key West and some of the sights there.  It was incredibly crowded, and we didn’t get to visit the Dry Tortugas National Park because the ferry over to it from Key West was totally booked for the entire time we were in the Keys.  Darn!  I guess that means another visit to the Keys……but check out what we did get to see!

American Shoal Lighthouse

Unfortunately, we couldn’t get any closer than this to this lighthouse.  Perhaps on our next visit, we can rent a boat and get a closer look!  American Shoal Lighthouse was completed in 1880, and was honored by a US postage stamp 110 years later, in 1990.

Key West Lighthouse

One lighthouse we did get to see up close was the Key West Lighthouse, in the midst of Key West.  It was originally located in a different location, and first lighted in 1826.  However, that first Key West Lighthouse was destroyed by a hurricane in 1846.   It was rebuilt on this location in 1848. 

Open Lighthouse Window

This lighthouse received a Henry-LePaute third-order Fresnel lens in 1858, and that still serves the lighthouse today.  Then, in 1873, it received a new lantern.  Then, in 1915, the lighthouse was automated.

Keepers’ Quarters

In 1832, Barbara Mabrity, succeeded her husband as the keeper of the old lighthouse.  She served as keeper until 1864, when, at age 82, she was encouraged to retire by federal officials, after pro-Confederate statements were attributed to her.  Her granddaughter married a later keeper, and then succeeded him as a keeper.  It is believed that later one of Barbara’s grandsons also served as keeper, and that his wife later succeeded him.  If that’s true, Barbara Mabrity and her grandchildren and their spouses kept the Key West Lighthouse for 82 of the 89 years it was a manned station!  The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1969, after 121 years of service.

Thru the Lighthouse Window

We actually got to climb up this lighthouse!  On the way up, I couldn’t resist taking an image thru the round lighthouse window.  I love being able to see the huge hinges for the window “door” on the side of this image and how the round window draws in your eye.

View of Key West

When we reached the top of the lighthouse, we paused a bit to catch our breath and take in the great views of Key West!  We got to walk around the top, each offering an interesting and historic sight.

Red Southernmost House

The red-roofed house is the southernmost house on the Keys.  It was built in 1896 for the Civil War surgeon, Dr. Jeptha Vinning and his wife, Florida Curry Harris. I’m only guessing, but I doubt that there were many houses surrounding this house when they lived in it.

Whitehead Point

Whitehead Point was the original site of the Key West Lighthouse, and is located at the point directly to the left of the high metal tower in this image.

Sand Key Lighthouse

Here’s another lighthouse that can be seen from the top of the Key West Lighthouse.  Again, when we visit again, I’m hoping we will be able to get closer to this and other lighthouses around the Keys.  Sand Key Lighthouse is on a small white sandy islet, and has always been a great spot for a picnic.  The first lighthouse on this spot, was built in 1827, and altho it survived the hurricanes in 1835, 1841, 1842 and 1844, in 1846 storm waves surged over the island, and the lighthouse collapsed, killing the keeper and 5 others who had fled to there for safety from the storm.  When it was rebuilt, it was a wrought-iron screwpile, with foundation piles secured to the coral reef below.  In 1989, there was a terrible fire, concentrated in the central core of the tower.  The Coast Guard determined the lighthouse was salvageable.  Renovations took about 10 years, but Sand Key Lighthouse still stands (minus the stairwell and keepers’ quarters) and functions!

Enjoy!