Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse
Pompano Beach, Florida

History:
First proposed as early as 1851, Hillsoboro Inlet lighthouse wasn't funded until 1902. Additional funds were appropriated in 1903 and 1905. The lantern room and cupola of the lighthouse was displayed at the 1904 Great St. Louis Exposition, while the remainder of the tower was built later in Detroit, Michigan.

The lighthouse was first lit in 1907. The 145 foot tall lighthouse was accompanied by three identical wooden dwellings for the keeper and his two assistants. The lighthouse housed a second order bivalve classical lens made in Paris in 1905. The lens floated on a pool of mercury which allowed it to rotate with very little friction. The rotation of the lens was powered by a clockworks with a 100-pound weight that ran for only two hours before it needed to be rewound.

Efforts to protect the station failed in 1947 when another hurricane destroyed the head Keepers dwelling. The other two dwellings remain to this day.

This lighthouse was electrified in the early 1930's. It was automated and unmanned in 1972. Although unmanned as a light station, the dwellings were converted into recreational cottages for senior military personel. In 1978, the lighthouse and dwellings were placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse is used today as a military recreation area for senior officers. This function helps maintain the historic grounds and buildings while economically maintaining the aid to navigation. Its grounds are not open to the public, but you can get a great view of the lighthouse from beaches on the south side of Hillsboro Inlet.

Source: Florida Lighthouse Page

Personal Note:
Walk further into the park than just the parts surrounding the parking lot. We didn't journey that far. All our pictures of the lighthouse were from near the parking lot. We could have gotten much better pictures if we went further in.

Latitude/Longitude: 26.259186,-80.080765

Nearest Address: 2698 Bay Dr, Pompano Beach, FL

• From the south (Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, etc.) take A1A north into Pompano Beach.
• Appx. 3/4 of a mile north of the intersection of Route 814 you will come to a drawbridge. Take a right into the parking lot for the park. From there you can wander the park to get your best vantage points of the lighthouse.

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