The 6 Lighthouses
Fowey Rocks

Submitted by Eric S. Martin
Active: Yes
Characteristics: flashing white every 10-seconds with two
red sectors.
Height: 125 feet
DayMark: Brown octagonal, pyramidal skeletal tower enclosing white stair
cylinder and octagonal dwelling with green trim
and shutters.
History: Constructed in 1877-78. First lighted June 15, 1878.
Lens: Original: First-order revolving Fresnel lens; Present: Vega VRB-25 rotating beacon;
RACON. Focal Plane: 110
feet.
Construction: Architect: unknown. Builders: Paulding and Kemble Cold
Spring, New York (iron foundation); Pusey, Jones & Company, Wilmington,
Delaware (iron tower). Iron screwpile constructed of wrought iron.
Operated by: United States Coast Guard
Visit Status: Closed to public,
Facilities: None, no handicap access
Visitor Info: From land can be seen on a clear day from the top of Cape
Florida Lighthouse. Boats can be chartered out Key Biscayne/Miami area.
Carysfort Reef

submitted by Jack Burrie
Active: Yes
Characteristics: Three-group flashing white every 60-seconds with three
red sectors.
Height: 112 feet
DayMark: Dark red octagonal, pyramidal skeletal tower enclosing stair
sylinder and conical dwelling; black screwpile foundation.
History: Constructed in 1852. First lighted Mach 10, 1852. It is the
oldest iron screwpile lighthouse still functioning in the US. On the National
Register Listing.
Lens: Original: Eighteen patent lamps with 21-inch reflectors (1852);
Winslow Lewis. Present: Vega VRB-25 rotating beacon; RACON. Focal Plane: 100
feet.
Construction: Architect: I.W.P. Lewis. Builders: Lt. George Gordon
Meade. Iron screwpile constructed of wrought iron.
Operated by: United States Coast Guard
Visit Status: Closed to public,
Facilities: None, no handicap access
Visitor Info: Cannot be seen from land. Boats can be chartered out of
Key Largo to go out to the light or from John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
The Florida Keys Reef Lights Foundation has been formed to promote the
establishment of a lighthouse museum and future access to the light.
Alligator Reef
Submitted by Eric S. Martin
Active Yes
Characteristics: Four-group flashing white every 60-seconds with two red
sectors.
Height: 150 feet
DayMark: White octagonal, pyramid skeletal tower enclosing stair cylinder
and square dwelling; black pile foundation
History: Constructed
1871-1873. First Lighted: November
25, 1873. Automated: 1963.
Lens: Original: Revolving 1st order Fresnel lens. Present: Vega VRB-25
rotating beacon; RACON. Focal Plane: 136 feet.
Construction: Builders: Paulding & Kemble. Iron screwpile, skeletal
tower constructed of wrought iron and wood.
Operated by: United States Coast Guard
Visit Status: Closed to public,
Facilities: None, no handicap access
Visitor Info: Can be viewed from Islamorada at the south end of Upper
Matecumbe Key. The Florida Keys Reef Lights Foundation has been formed to
promote the establishment of a lighthouse museum with future lighthouse tours
and access.
Sombrero Key

Submitted by Bonnie Jean Exxom
Active: Yes
Characteristics: Five-group falshing white every 60-seconds with three
red sectors.
Height: 156 feet, 133 steps
DayMark: Brown, octagonal, pyramidal skeletal tower
History: Constructed 1857-1858. First Lighted: March 17, 1858. Automated: 1960. Third and last iron screw pile lighthouse in the Florida Keys built by Captain George Gordon Meade.
Lens: Original: First-order fixed Fresnel lens; Henry-LePaute 1858.
Present: Veg VRB-25 roating beacon. Focal Plane: 142 feet.
Construction: Builders: George Gordon Meade. Screwpile, skeletal tower
constructed of wrought iron and wood.
Operated by: United States Coast Guard
Visit Status: Closed to public
Facilities: None, no handicap access
Visitor Info: Approachable by boat from Marathon and can be seen from
land at Sombrero Beach State Park. The Florida Keys Reef Lights Foundation has
been formed to promote the establishment of a lighthouse museum with future
lighthouse tours and access
American Shoal

Submitted by Eric S. Martin (note lighthouse was being re-painted)
Active: Yes
Characteristics: Three-group flashing white every 15-seconds with two red
sectors.
Height: 124 feet
DayMark: Brown octagonal pyramidal skeletal tower enclosing white
staricase and brown octagonal dwelling; screwpile foundation.
History: Constructed 1879 - 1880. First Lighted: July 15, 1880.
Lens: Original: 1st order revolving Fresnel lens (removed in 1980).
Present: Vega VRB-25 revolving beacon; RACON. Focal Plane: 109 feet.
Construction: Builders: Phoenix Iron Co. Iron screwpile constructed of
wrought iron.
Operated by: Untied States Coast Guard
Visit Status: Closed to public,
Facilities: None, no handicap access
Visitor Info: From Sugarloaf Key the lighthouse is approachable by boat
and can be seen from shore. The Florida Keys Reef Lights Foundation has been
formed to promote the establishment of a lighthouse museum with eventual
lighthouse tours and access.ri
Sand Key
submitted by Stan Beckstrom
Active: Yes
Characteristics: Two-group flashing white every 15-seconds.
Height: 132 feet, 112 steps
DayMark: Brown, square pyramidal skeletal tower with white lantern
History: Constructed 1852-1853. First Lighted July 20, 1853. Active, but
deactivated 1989-1996 during restoration. On National Register Listing.
Lens: Original: Revolving first-order Fresnel lens (removed 1982); Henry-LePaute
(1853). Present: Vega VRB-25 rotating beacon. Focal Plane: 109 feet.
Construction: Architect: I.W.P. Lewis. Builders: Lt. George Gordon Meade
and John F. Riley Iron Works. Iron screwpile constructed of wrought iron and
wood.
Operated by: United States Coast Guard
Visit Status: Closed to public,
Facilities: None, no handicap access
Visitor Info: Approachable by boat from Key West. The Florida Keys Reef
Lights Foundation has been formed to promote the establishment of a lighthouse
museum with future lighthouse tours and access.