Amelia Island Lighthouse
Fernandina Beach, Florida

History:
The Amelia Island Light is the oldest existing lighthouse in the state of Florida in the United States. It is located near the northern end of Amelia Island in the northeastern part of the state. Its light marks St. Marys Entrance, the inlet leading to St. Marys River, the Cumberland Sound and the harbor of Fernandina Beach, Florida along the Amelia River. The white light flashes every ten seconds which turns red from 344° to 360° when covering the shoal water in the vicinity of Nassau Sound.

The lighthouse was built in 1838 using materials taken from the former lighthouse on Cumberland Island in Georgia just north of the inlet, which was built in 1820. The brick tower was originally 50 feet (15 m) tall placed on a hill. In 1881, a lantern was installed on the tower increasing the tower height to 64 feet (20 m) with the focal plane height of 107 feet (33 m) above see level.

The tower was originally equipped with 14 lamps each with a 14-inch (360 mm) reflector when first lit in 1839. The reflector size was increased to 15 inches (380 mm) by 1848. This arrangement was replaced by a third-order Barbier Benard Fresnel lens in 1903, which is still used in the lighthouse.

The Amelia Island Lighthouse was automated in 1956. The next-to-last civilian keeper of the lighthouse was Thomas J. O'Hagan, who was the son of the previous keeper, Thomas P. O'Hagan, and was married to a direct descendant of the first keeper, Amos Latham.

The ownership of the lighthouse was transferred from the United States Coast Guard to the City of Fernandina Beach in 2001, which now maintains the historical monument. The Coast Guard, though, is still responsible for the function of the beacon. Access to the lighthouse is limited by the city. As of 2012, the lighthouse is not open to the public, except on Saturdays where it is open for viewing for three hours only. The city also offers tours to the lighthouse twice a month.

Source: Wikipedia

Hours:
The lighthouse is in a residential neighborhood and the lighthouse is closed to the public. The city offers tours to the lighthouse twice a month.

Apart from the tours the best view of the lighthouse, albeit distant, is from Fort Clinch State Park.

Latitude/Longitude: 30.67315,-81.442488

Nearest Address:  Fort Clinch Rd, Fernandina Beach, FL

• Take exit 373 for Florida 200/Florida A1A toward Callahan/Fernandina Beach. At the end of the ramp turn right onto Florida 200 / A1A
• Take Florida 200/A1A for 14.4 miles into Fernandina Beach then turn right onto Atlantic Ave.
• Stay on Atlantic Ave for 1.5 miles then turn left into Fort Clinch State Park.
• Once in the park continue on Fort Clinch Rd until you get to the overlook on the left.

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