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St. Marks Lighthouse, Florida

When Florida was acquired as part of the United States in 1821, one of the first priorities of the territorial government was the lighting of the coast in order to promote business. In 1827 the territorial legislature sent a request to Congress to establish a lighthouse at the entrance to the St. Marks River which was used to transport goods for the Tallahassee area and southern counties of Georgia to the Gulf of Mexico.
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By June 1831 cracks began to appear in the tower due to settling of the foundation.  This was addressed by placing iron hoops around the tower.  As commerce in the area grew, the first railroad in Florida between St. Marks and Tallahassee was completed in 1835.
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By June 1831 cracks began to appear in the tower due to settling of the foundation. This was addressed by placing iron hoops around the tower. As commerce in the area grew, the first railroad in Florida between St. Marks and Tallahassee was completed in 1835.

MarksLighthouse004

  • In May 1828 Congress made an appropriation of $6,000 for the construction of a lighthouse at St. Marks. The construction site chosen by the Pensacola Collector of Customs was Oscilla Point at the entrance to the river. The point had “an extensive & solid Bed of Lime stone Rock” on which to build and the property was owned by the Federal government.
  • The site chosen for the St. Marks Lighthouse was on low lying land and somewhat obscured, and authorities realized the $6,000 appropriated would not be sufficient to build a tall tower.  An additional appropriation of $8,000 was made in 1829 and a contract to build the lighthouse was entered into with Winslow Lewis later that year.
  • A 12 foot deep foundation of limestone blocks taken from the ruins of the Spanish Fort San Marcos de Apalache was completed by the end of 1829. A 65 foot brick tower was built upon this foundation. When the tower was inspected by the Collector of Customs for St. Marks it was found to have hollow walls and the builders were charged with fraud.
  • ** A local gator waiting for a meal at the Wildlife Refuge **<br />
A new mason, Calvin Knowlton, was brought in to rebuild the tower according to the contract specifications.  The second tower was completed and accepted by the government in 1831.
  • Samuel Crosby had been appointed Keeper of the St. Marks Light in January 1830. When the tower was finally completed in 1831 he climbed to the lantern and lit the 15 fixed whale oil lamps with 14 inch reflectors.
  • By June 1831 cracks began to appear in the tower due to settling of the foundation.  This was addressed by placing iron hoops around the tower.  As commerce in the area grew, the first railroad in Florida between St. Marks and Tallahassee was completed in 1835.
  • As time passed, the foundation continued to deteriorate putting the tower in danger of collapse.  The government held Winslow Lewis responsible and had him dismantle the tower and rebuild it in a new location on a foundation of pilings in 1842.
  • In September 1843 a hurricane struck the St. Marks area completely devastating the town while killing 15 people.  Only the lighthouse and the damaged Keepers dwelling remained standing.  Another hurricane hit the area in 1851 and destroyed the old Spanish fort.  People sought refuge in the tower during the storm.
  • With the outbreak of the Civil War the Confederates removed the lighting apparatus and safely hid it away.  In 1865 retreating Confederate soldiers attempted to blow up the lighthouse and blasted an 8 foot hole around ⅓ of the tower which blew out the lantern panes.  But the tower remained standing and was repaired and put back into service in January 1867.
  • In 1883 modifications to the tower increased its height by 10 feet to its present height of 82 feet and a new lantern was installed.
  • Charles Fine served as Keeper from 1892 thru 1904 and his daughter Sarah married John Gresham who became Keeper in 1916.  During his tenure the St. Marks Migratory Bird Refuge was created in 1931 and a road was built to the lighthouse.  In 1957 Gresham’s son Alton succeeded him as Keeper and served until automation of the light in 1960.  In 1974 the St. Marks Lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The Fresnel lens was replaced with a modern optic in 2000.  In 2010 ownership was transferred from the Coast Guard to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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  • St Marks Lighthouse008
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