Inventory of Historic Light Stations--Florida Lighthouses--

Inventory of Historic Light Stations
Florida Lighthouses

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GASPARILLA ISLAND (BOCA GRANDE) LIGHTS

State: FLORIDA
Location: GASPARILLA ISLAND/GULF OF MEXICO
Nearest City: BOCA GRANDE
County: LEE
U.S.C.G. District: 7
Year Station Established: 1890

Gasparilla Island (Boca Grande) Light 1890

Gasparilla Island (Boca Grande) Light 1890

Gasparilla Island (Boca Grande) Light 1881/1932

1890 tower (left) and 1881/1932 tower (right); NPS photos by Candace Clifford, 1998

First Historic Tower:

Year Light First Lit: 1890
Is the Light Operational? YES
Date Deactivated: 1966-1986
Automated: 1950
Foundation Materials: IRON PILINGS
Construction Materials: WOOD FRAME (ASH WOOD)
Markings/Patterns: WHITE WITH BLACK LANTERN
Shape: OCTAGONAL TOWER ON SQUARE HOUSE
Relationship to Other Structures: INTEGRAL
Tower Height: 44
Original Optic: THREE AND HALF ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed: 1890
Present Optic: 375 MM DRUM
Year Present Lens Installed: 1986
Height of Focal Plane: 41
Has tower been moved? NO

Second Historic Tower: (ORIGINALLY BUILT IN 1881 AND SERVED DELAWARE BREAKWATER REAR RANGE LIGHT, DISCONTINUED 1918, DISASSEMBLED AND MOVED 1921, RE-ERECTED IN FLORIDA IN 1927)

Year Light First Lit: 1932
Is the Light Operational? YES
Date Deactivated: N/A
Automated:
Foundation Materials: STEEL PILING
Construction Materials: WROUGHT IRON?
Markings/Patterns: NATURAL
Shape: SKELETAL W/CENTRAL COLUMN
Relationship to Other Structures: SEPARATE
Tower Height:
Original Optic: FOURTH ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed: 1932
Present Optic:
Year Present Lens Installed:
Height of Focal Plane: 105
Has tower been moved? YES, 1921

Fresnel Lens Disposition:

Previous Tower(s): N/A

Modern Tower? NO

Existing Sound Signal Building? NO

Existing Keepers Quarters? YES

Year Constructed: 1890
Number of Stories: 1
Architectural Style: BUNGALOW (INTEGRAL)
Construction Materials: WOOD ON IRON PILINGS

Other Structures: 2 CISTERNS, ASST. KEEPERS DWELLING (1890), GENERATOR SHED, REPLICA BOARDWALK

Current Use: ACTIVE AIDS TO NAVIGATION/OLDER TOWER IS A MUSEUM IN A STATE PARK

Owner/Manager: FLORIDA PARK SERVICE/BARRIER ISLAND PARK SOCIETY

Open to the Public? YES (Go to Lighthouses to Visit for access information)

Web Site:

National Register Status: LISTED; Reference #80000953
Name of Listing: BOCA GRANDE LIGHTHOUSE
On State List/Inventory? NO; Year Listed:

Miscellaneous:
CHARLOTTE HARBOR LIGHT STATION BUILT ON SIMILAR PLAN TO 1890 TOWER; BOTH LIGHTS SERVED AS REAR RANGES FOR DIFFERENT RANGES; 1890 TOWER RESTORED 1986 AND MARITIME MUSEUM OPENED IN 1999

Last Modified: Mon, Mar 04 2002 2:40:02 pm EDT
JMP

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