Six miles offshore from Key Largo, Carysfort Reef Lighthouse rises from the Atlantic on an octagonal iron framework. The 125-foot tower was designed to place its light above waves and weather while keeping the keepers’ living quarters high over the reef.
Carysfort Reef was named for the HMS Carysfort, which grounded there in 1770, and later claimed many more vessels. A lightship named Caesar began marking the reef in the 1820s but repeatedly broke free or was damaged. The permanent tower was started in 1848 and finally lighted in 1852, making it Florida’s oldest standing reef lighthouse. Its success shaped the design of later offshore lights. The station was electrified in 1938, automated in 1962, and deactivated in 2014 when a separate modern aid assumed its navigational role.
The best views are by boat or plane, and some dive or snorkel operators visit the reef when conditions permit. The tower is closed and should be viewed only from the water. A very distant view may be possible from northern Key Largo on a clear day.
Carysfort Reef Lighthouse is privately owned and no longer functions as the official light for the reef. Its historic Fresnel lenses have been removed for preservation and display. There is no public access to the tower.
