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Florida Lighthouses

Sanibel Island
Southwest Region

Sanibel Island

Sanibel
Constructed 1884. First Lighted August 20, 1884. On National Register Listing.
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At a Glance

Region
Southwest Region
Type
Historic Lighthouse
Latitude
26.45295
Longitude
-82.01425

Sanibel Island

Photo by  Waddy Thompson     


Photo: Eric Martin		 Active: Yes

Characteristics: Flashing white twice every six seconds.

Height: 112 feet, 101 steps

DayMark: Brown square pyramidal skeletal tower enclosing stair cylinder

History: Constructed 1884. First Lighted August 20, 1884. On National Register Listing.

Lens: Original: Third-order revolving Fresnel lens (1884-1923). Third-order fixed Fresnel lens (1923-1962). Present: 300mm lantern. Focal Plane: 98 feet.

Construction: Builder: Phoenix Ironworks. Iron skeletal tower constructed of concreat and iron pilings.

Other Buildings: Two elevated, wood-frame keeper's dwellings (1884); brick oil storage house (1894).

Coordinates:
     26 27 11 N
     82 00 51 W

Operated by: United States Coast Guard

Visit Status: Grounds Only

Facilities: Museum, Gift Shop

Visitor Info: The lighthouse is on the grounds of a city park. Lighthouse is closed, keepers’ dwellings are residences for city employees. Grounds only open.

Contact:
Sanibel Historical Village & Museum
Charles LeBuff
910 Fitzhugh St.
Sanibel, FL  33957

Email: sanybelcl@aol.com

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Overview

Sanibel Island Lighthouse is a 112-foot iron tower with a central stair cylinder and no enclosed keeper’s dwelling. Its simple brown framework rises above the palms at the eastern tip of Sanibel, where beachgoers can walk close to the base.

History

After years of requests from local mariners, the lighthouse was completed and first lighted in 1884 with a third-order Fresnel lens. A hurricane in 1891 caused severe erosion around the station. The Coast Guard automated the light in 1949 and replaced the Fresnel lens with a modern optic. The City of Sanibel assumed management of the property in 1982 and restored the tower in 2013. Hurricane Ian swept away the keeper dwellings and oil house in 2022 and damaged a support leg, but the tower remained standing. It was relighted in February 2023 and received a permanent replacement leg in 2024.

Visiting & Access

The lighthouse is at Lighthouse Beach Park on the eastern end of Sanibel Island. Visitors can walk around the exterior and enjoy the beach, fishing pier area, and nature trails. The tower has no public interior access. Parking and park conditions should be checked locally.

Current Status

The City of Sanibel manages the lighthouse property, while the Coast Guard maintains the active beacon. Recovery and preservation work followed Hurricane Ian, and the light is operating again. The grounds are open, but the tower remains closed.

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