Key West Lighthouse - Key West, FL - Look-Out Towers on Waymarking.com

The current lighthouse, which was built in 1848, stands on ground that is 14' above sea level. When the first lighthouse keeper, Michael Mabrity passed away, his wife Barbara took his place. A female keeper was nearly unheard of during the 19th century. To her credit, she served for 32 years.

Over time, congress appropriated additional funding and the Key West Lighthouse underwent a number of upgrades including the installation of a Third Order Fresnel Lens in 1858.

As the town expanded and trees reached maturity, the light became obscured. In 1894 an additional 20 feet was added to the tower extending the height and range of the beacon. The lighthouse currently stands at 100' tall.

Final upgrades included the addition of the Keeper's Quarters and eventually the electrification of the light.

In 1969, the U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned the Key West Lighthouse with the advent of advanced technology eliminating the need for a full-time Keeper.

Today, this sentinel of the sea stands as a museum dedicated to Key West's maritime heritage and to the men and women who bravely kept the light burning through the threats of war and inclement weather. You can climb the 88 iron steps to the top of the tower for a scenic look at what the lighthouse keepers watched over for more than 120 years.

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Height of Look-Out Tower in feet: 100.00 Difficulty: Opening times and fees: Open daily from 9:30AM – 4:30PM, Closed Christmas; Adults: $12; Children (age 6 and up): $5; Children under 6: Free; Students with ID: $5 Parking Area: N 24° 33.014 W 081° 48.053

Visit Instructions:
Please log only if you have been up there and you must include a photo of the scenic view from the top.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   09/05/2021 petendot visited it