About Cape Florida Lighthouse:

Coast Guard aircrews from an HC-130 Hercules fixed-wing aircraft, an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Clearwater, Fla., an HH-60 Dolphin helicopter and an HU-25 Falcon jet from Air Station Miami perform a flyover near the Cape Florida Lighthouse.

The Cape Florida Lighthouse was completed in 1825. It was 65 feet high, of solid brick, 5 feet thick at the base. For years it guided the mariner as he passed the dangerous Florida Reef and led him into Cape Florida Channel to a safe anchorage from violent gales in the lee of Key Biscayne. 

During the Seminole War, on July 23, 1836 the lighthouse was attacked by Seminoles.  Rebuilding of the Cape Florida Light was not completed until 1846 because hostile Indians remained nearby in the Everglades.

In 1855 the tower was raised to 95 feet.  The lighting apparatus was destroyed in 1861, during the Civil War, and was not restored until 1867.  Cape Florida Light was discontinued in 1878 when Fowey Rock Light was established, and the tower and property was eventually sold to Mr. James Deering of Chicago.
The state of Florida acquired the property in the 1960s and developed it into the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. 

Through the cooperation with the Coast Guard, the lighthouse was restored and a glass 375-mm lens was placed atop the structure and a keeper's cottage was built.  The new light was re-lit on 15 June 1978.  It apparently fell into decline during the 1990s but the lighthouse survived Hurricane Andrew with moderate damage. 

Location:  Southernmost Point on Key Biscayne
State: Florida
Photographer: Petty Officer 3rd Class Nick Ameen