Cape San Blas History
The first "Cape San Blas" Lighthouse was built on the end of St. Joseph Point in 1838. Sandy shoals extending off Cape San Blas provided justification for building another lighthouse on the Cape property in 1847.
The next Cape San Blas lighthouse was completed in May 1858. This lighthouse was extinguished by the Confederates during the Civil War three years later.
During the War, all of the wooden portions of the
brick lighthouse were burned, as was the keeper's dwelling. It is not clear who did the burning, but the victors of the war blamed the Confederates. Repairs were completed in 1865 and the tower was relit.
By 1869, beach erosion was again threatening the lighthouse site. Various schemes were tried, and funds were sought for a replacement tower, but it was too little, too late. It eventually leaned, cracked and finally fell over during a hurricane in 1882. For three years the light was shown from the top of a 100 foot tall mast.
Finally, in 1885, a 98-foot tall iron skeleton tower lighthouse and two keeper's dwellings were constructed .
This may sound like a broken record, but within four years, beach erosion threatened this site too.
A hurricane in 1894 destroyed both of the keeper's dwellings, the lighthouse stood relatively undamaged, although surrounded by water.
A few months later, it was decided to move the lighthouse to Black's Island in the southern part of St. Joseph's Bay.
Work was started on the island, but by 1901 the beach had reformed to the point where the lighthouse was 100 feet inland. The tower stayed high and dry until 1919.
This time the tower was quickly moved 1.25 miles inland to its present location.
The lighthouse was converted from incandescent oil vapor lamps to electricity in the early 1940's.
In 2004 Gulf County and the Historical Association decided to restore the keepers quarters. They hired Mr. Randy Lewis from Manausa Lewis & Dodson Architects, Peter Brown Construction and New Millennium Construction to bring this piece of history back to his original glory. LINKS
In 2004 Gulf County and the Historical Association decided to restore the keepers quarters. They hired Mr. Randy Lewis from Manausa Lewis & Dodson Architects, Peter Brown Construction and New Millennium Construction to bring this piece of history back to his original glory.
Project completed May 17, 2005 with Outstanding Achievement
Florida Trust for Historic Preservation 2006 Statewide Award. Winner for Outstanding Achievement Restoration/Preservation
2008 Regional Award
LINKS
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