Gasparilla Island Lights
Encyclopedia
The Gasparilla Island Lights are on Gasparilla Island
in Boca Grande, Florida
. The Port Boca Grande Light is on the south tip of Gasparilla Island, and marked the Boca Grande Pass entrance to Charlotte Harbor
. It has also been known as the Gasparilla Island Light and the Boca Grande Light. The Gasparilla Island Light is one mile (1.6 km) north of the first lighthouse. It has also been known as the Boca Grande Light and the Boca Grande Light Rear Range.
, with the lantern placed in a cupola at the peak of the roof. The keeper lived in the lighthouse. A similar house (without a lantern) built next to it was the assistant keeper's dwelling.
The Port Boca Grande Light originally served ships transporting cattle from ports on Charlotte Harbor to Cuba
. Phosphate
ore from the Peace River
area became an important cargo in the 1890s, and an extension of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad
to Port Boca Grande in 1909 resulted in increased traffic. Ship traffic to Port Boca Grande peaked at more than 30 ships a day during World War II
, when Port Boca Grande served as a safe harbor for shipping in the Gulf.
The Gasparilla Island Light was deactivated in 1966, and abandoned by the Coast Guard
in 1969. The buildings quickly deteriorated, and by 1970 beach erosion had exposed the screw-piles supporting the building, with waves breaking under the building at high tide. Two rock groins were built to protect the lighthouse, and sand was pumped in to build up the beach. Lee County
took title the lighthouse in 1972. On February 28, 1980, the lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
. Restoration work began in 1985. In 1986 the light was recommissioned. In 1988 the building and surrounding property were turned over to the State of Florida and became a state park. In 1999 the Historic Port Boca Grande Lighthouse and Museum opened to the public. It is considered an Aid to Navigation and the lamp room is maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg Aids to Navigation Team.
Gasparilla Island
Gasparilla Island is a barrier island in southwest Florida, United States, straddling the border of Charlotte and Lee Counties. Its largest town is Boca Grande, and it is the location of the Gasparilla Island State Park...
in Boca Grande, Florida
Boca Grande, Florida
Boca Grande is a small residential community on Gasparilla Island, in southwest Florida. Gasparilla Island is a part of both Charlotte and Lee Counties, while the actual village of Boca Grande, which is home to many seasonal and some year-round residents, is entirely in the Lee County portion of...
. The Port Boca Grande Light is on the south tip of Gasparilla Island, and marked the Boca Grande Pass entrance to Charlotte Harbor
Charlotte Harbor (estuary)
Charlotte Harbor Estuary is a natural estuary spanning the west coast of Florida from Venice to Bonita Springs on the Gulf of Mexico and is one of the most productive wetlands in Florida...
. It has also been known as the Gasparilla Island Light and the Boca Grande Light. The Gasparilla Island Light is one mile (1.6 km) north of the first lighthouse. It has also been known as the Boca Grande Light and the Boca Grande Light Rear Range.
Port Boca Grande Light
Port Boca Grande Light was first lit on December 31, 1890. It is a two-story frame dwelling raised on iron screw-pilesScrew-pile lighthouse
A screw-pile lighthouse is a lighthouse which stands on piles that are screwed into sandy or muddy sea or river bottoms. The first screw-pile lighthouse was built by blind Irish engineer Alexander Mitchell...
, with the lantern placed in a cupola at the peak of the roof. The keeper lived in the lighthouse. A similar house (without a lantern) built next to it was the assistant keeper's dwelling.
The Port Boca Grande Light originally served ships transporting cattle from ports on Charlotte Harbor to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. Phosphate
Phosphate
A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry and biogeochemistry or ecology. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in...
ore from the Peace River
Peace River (Florida)
The Peace River is a river in the southwestern part of the Florida peninsula, in the U.S.A.. It originates at the juncture of Saddle Creek and Peace Creek northeast of Bartow in Polk County and flows south through Hardee County to Arcadia in DeSoto County and then southwest into the Charlotte...
area became an important cargo in the 1890s, and an extension of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad
Seaboard Air Line Railroad
The Seaboard Air Line Railroad , which styled itself "The Route of Courteous Service," was an American railroad whose corporate existence extended from April 14, 1900, until July 1, 1967, when it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, its longtime rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line...
to Port Boca Grande in 1909 resulted in increased traffic. Ship traffic to Port Boca Grande peaked at more than 30 ships a day during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when Port Boca Grande served as a safe harbor for shipping in the Gulf.
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
in 1969. The buildings quickly deteriorated, and by 1970 beach erosion had exposed the screw-piles supporting the building, with waves breaking under the building at high tide. Two rock groins were built to protect the lighthouse, and sand was pumped in to build up the beach. Lee County
Lee County, Florida
Lee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. Located in southwest Florida, the principal cities in the county are Fort Myers and Cape Coral...
took title the lighthouse in 1972. On February 28, 1980, the lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. Restoration work began in 1985. In 1986 the light was recommissioned. In 1988 the building and surrounding property were turned over to the State of Florida and became a state park. In 1999 the Historic Port Boca Grande Lighthouse and Museum opened to the public. It is considered an Aid to Navigation and the lamp room is maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg Aids to Navigation Team.