LIGHTHOUSE; Jupiter, FL--
The structure is perched on a hill with an elevation of 46 feet. The hill was recognized as an unusual land feature in this part of Florida but it was not until restoration work in 1999-2000 that archeologists discovered the hill actually was a burial mound for a Native American colony dating to 700 AD.
The site overlooks the outlet for the Loxahatchee River (shown above) and the Atlantic Ocean in the near distance. The lighthouse was designed to warn mariners of the dangerous shoals in the nearby coastal area.
There are small landings at the tower's windows where visitors can rest during the "arduous" climb. Folks who succeed in the ascent are offered a certificate attesting to their "survival".
What is described as "...a magnificent, first-order Fresnel lens" was made in Paris. When revolving, the bulls-eyes in the lens produce a repeating cycle of two flashes of light followed by a brief period of darkness; the light's signature display.
The lighthouse commenced operation in July 1860. It was extinguished in August 1861 during the American Civil War and remained dark until June 1866.
The light was electrified in 1928 but it was soon found the electricity supply was not as reliable as the original, oil lanterns.
Public tours of the still-operating lighthouse and its grounds have been offered by the Loxahatchee Historical Society since 1994. That's historical society volunteer John with Sue in the lead photo above.
The light now operates automatically by electricity with a stand-by generator and a bulb which, itself, has a stand-by that automatically changes when the operating bulb fails.
Remember the young Lieutenant Meade who did the design work for the light? He went on to the rank of General and was credited with the defeat of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at the battle of Gettysburg in 1863.
A visitor begins his descent from just below the lighthouse lantern room (above).
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