Inventory of Historic Light Stations--Florida Lighthouses--Carysfort Reef Light

Inventory of Historic Light Stations
Florida Lighthouses

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CARYSFORT REEF LIGHT

State: FLORIDA
Location: CARYSFORT REEF/FLORIDA KEYS
Nearest City: KEY LARGO
County: MONROE
U.S.C.G. District: 7
Year Station Established: 1825

Existing Historic Tower:

Year Light First Lit: 1852
Is the Light Operational? YES
Date Deactivated: N/A
Automated: 1960
Foundation Materials: IRON SCREWPILE W/DISK
Construction Materials: IRON
Markings/Patterns: RED
Shape: SKELETAL OCTAGONAL PYRAMIDAL
Relationship to Other Structures: INTEGRAL
Tower Height: 120
Original Optic: FIRST ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed: 1852
Present Optic: VEGA VRB-25
Year Present Lens Installed:
Height of Focal Plane: 100
Fresnel Lens Disposition: ORIGINAL "HENRY LEPAUTE" REVOLVING FIRST-ORDER LENS DISPLAYED AT MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN FLORIDA HISTORY, MIAMI
Has tower been moved? NO

Previous Tower(s):

1. Construction Date: 1825
Description: LIGHTSHIP
Fate/Disposition: DECAYED AND ROTTED SO REPLACED WITH NEW VESSEL

Modern Tower? NO

Existing Sound Signal Building? NO

Existing Keepers Quarters? YES

Year Constructed: 1852
Number of Stories: 2
Architectural Style: INTEGRAL TO TOWER
Construction Materials: IRON

Other Structures: NONE

Current Use: ACTIVE AID TO NAVIGATION IN MARINE SANCTUARY

Owner/Manager: U.S. COAST GUARD/NATIONAL OCEANIC ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

Open to the Public? NO

Web Site:

National Register Status: LISTED Reference #84000199
Name of Listing: CARYSFORT LIGHTHOUSE
On State List/Inventory? NO; Year Listed:

Miscellaneous:
FIRST OF GIANT SCREWPILE LIGHTHOUSES ON FLORIDA KEYS; CONSTRUCTED BY GEORGE MEADE; SITE'S FIRST AID WAS A LIGHTSHIP; NAMED AFTER HMS CARYSFORT, WHICH RAN ONTO REEF IN 1770; PLANS CALL FOR CONVERTING OLD KEEPERS INTO MARINE LABORATORY

Last Modified: Fri, Mar 01 2002 3:35:02 pm EDT
JMP

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