History/Info:
As early as 1851 plans were made for the erection of a series of great offshore lighthouses to mark the dangerous Florida Reef. These towers, all of skeleton iron construction, to resist hurricanes, were eventually built one at a time over a period of years, that on American Shoal completed in 1880, being the most recently constructed. The ironwork for this light was fabricated in the North, and along with other necessary supplies and materials, was shipped to Key West, which was made the base of operations. The site of the lighthouse was 15 miles to the eastward, on the outermost reefs, and was covered with 4 feet of water. Construction continued for about two years, and the tower was first lighted on the night of July 15, 1880, and has since helped to bring about a substantial reduction in the number of shipwrecks occurring along this dangerous coast. The light is 109 feet above the water, and is visible on a clear night for 16 miles.

Source: Florida Lighthouse Page

Latitude/Longitude: 24°32'N 81°31'W

Directions: click here for overview map         click here for detail map

• The best viewing point of American Shoal Lighthouse from land is at Sugarloaf Beach.
• Take Route 1 to Route 939 in Sugarloaf Shores.
• Continue on 939 until you see Route 939A to the right. Take a right onto 939A.
• This will take you to Sugarloaf beach, where you can park and walk out to the beach to see the lighthouse in the distance.