Ponce De Leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum
Sign up free — See who's going and message them.
Is this your place? Get the badge for your websiteAbout
More photos 10
1 / 10
Why go
- At 53 metres (175 feet), the lighthouse is Florida’s tallest and the second tallest in the United States.
- The lighthouse beam helped shipwreck survivor Stephen Crane reach shore in 1897, an experience he drew on for “The Open Boat.”
- The restored lighthouse and three keepers’ homes are open to visitors.
Opening hours
Today10:00 – 18:00Show all
Don't miss
- Barbier et Fenestre lensThe lighthouse’s original fixed first-order Fresnel lens was made in 1867 and installed in 1887.In the museum
- Henry Lepaute lensThis rotating first-order Fresnel lens dates to 1860 and was used at Cape Canaveral Light Station.In the museum
- Tower viewsClimb the spiral stairs for views of the Atlantic Ocean and Halifax River.At the top of the lighthouse tower
Interesting facts3
-
1904
A restored 1904 third-order rotating Fresnel lens operates in the tower as a private navigation aid.
Ponce de Leon Inlet Light - Wikipedia -
1998
Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1998, it is one of only 10 US lighthouses with that status.
Ponce Inlet - Wikivoyage (see) -
1924
A generator installed in 1924 supplied electricity to the keepers’ homes and powered a water pump.
Ponce de Leon Inlet Light - Wikipedia
Shorts
-
Ponce de Leon Inlet LighthouseTraveling with the Trapps
-
Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum in FloridaOutdoor GIRLS
-
Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse in FloridaSpinnaker Resorts
-
Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse. Located in Ponce Inlet FloridaEXPLORE WHERE YOU ARE
-
Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse - Exploring Florida’s Tallest Lighthou…Life on Paws and Wheels
-
Guided by Light: Exploring the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse and Mus…Live In Florida
-
Let’s explore… The Ponce de Leon Inlet LighthouseExploringLibrarian
-
Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse & MuseumMax Legion
History
The first tower failed within a year of its construction.
- 1834An act provided $11,000 to build a lighthouse at the inlet.
- 1835The first tower was built on the inlet’s south side. A storm damaged its foundations, and Seminoles set fire to its wooden stairs.
- 1836The first tower collapsed after the area was abandoned.
- 1883Work began on a new lighthouse nearby, conceived by Francis Hopkinson Smith and initially supervised by Orville E. Babcock.
- 1887The replacement lighthouse on the inlet’s north side was completed and began shining. Its lamp could be seen from 17 nautical miles away.
Show all
- 1933The beacon received a 500-watt electric lamp and a third-order rotating Fresnel lens, replacing the original first-order lens.
- 1972The town took ownership, and the Lighthouse Preservation Association formed to manage the museum.
- 1998The lighthouse became a National Historic Landmark.
Tips for your visit
- The lighthouse museum is housed in the keepers’ homes and other historic station buildings.
How to get there
- CarAddress: 4931 South Peninsula Drive, Ponce Inlet.
Sources: Ponce de Leon Inlet Light - Wikipedia · Ponce Inlet - Wikivoyage (see) · Phare de Ponce de Leon Inlet - Wikipedia · checked 27 Sep 2026
- Website
- ponceinlet.org/
- Phone
- 3867611821
Questions and answers
How was the first lighthouse funded?
Congress approved $11,000 in 1834 to build it.
What fuel did the lighthouse originally use?
It first used kerosene. An incandescent oil vapor lamp replaced it in 1909.
Who conceived construction of the current tower?
Francis Hopkinson Smith conceived the work. Chief Engineer Orville E. Babcock supervised construction until he drowned in the inlet in 1884.
What did the 1835 attack damage?
Seminole attackers set fire to the first tower’s wooden stairs.
- See who's going — faces, not ticket counts.
- Write to someone who shares your interests — no swipes, no matches, no paywall.
- Pick the event or the place to meet at — and go together.