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Florida Lighthouses

Cedar Keys
Central West Region

Cedar Keys

Seahorse Key
Constructed in 1854. First Lighted August 1, 1854. Deactivated in 1915. On National Register Listing.
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At a Glance

Region
Central West Region
Type
Historic Lighthouse
Latitude
29.096483
Longitude
-83.06533

Cedar Keys Light Station


Photo:  Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National
Wildlife Refuge
 




  Active: No

Characteristics: Fixed white light (originally).

Height: 33 feet, 35 steps

DayMark: White house-style structure with white lantern.

History: Constructed in 1854. First Lighted August 1, 1854. Deactivated in 1915. On National Register Listing.

Lens: Original: Fourth-order Fresnel lens; henry-LePaute (1854). Present: None. Focal Plane:75 feet.

Construction: Architect and Builder: Lt. George Gordon Meade. Masonry house-style structure constructed of brick and iron.

Other Buildings: Frame additions added to original brick structure, water tank, cistern, and oil storage house.

Visit Status: No Access

Facilities: None

Visitor Info: Lighthouse is not accessible at this time. It is used as part of a Marine Laboratory by the University of Florida. The grounds and tower are open only during a two-day open house scheduled the third weekend in October. (In 2006 open house will be October 21, 22.  Hours Sat. 9:30 - 5:00 and Sun. 8:30 - 4:00.  Admission FREE, but tour boat will cost approx. $12.00.)
 
Contact:
Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge
16450 N.W. 31 Place
Chiefland, FL  32626

Email: LowerSuwannee@fws.gov

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Overview

Cedar Keys Lighthouse crowns the highest point on Seahorse Key, several miles offshore from the town of Cedar Key. A lantern rises from the roof of the white brick dwelling, creating a cottage-style lighthouse whose elevated site gives the modest tower a broad view across the Gulf.

History

Construction began after Congress funded a light for the Cedar Keys in 1850. The station was completed and first lighted in 1854 with a fourth-order Fresnel lens. Confederate forces extinguished the light during the Civil War, and Union troops later occupied the island. The lighthouse returned to service after the war but was discontinued in 1915. Seahorse Key subsequently became part of a wildlife refuge and a marine research station. In 2019, a replica Fresnel lens and modern light returned a beacon to the lantern for the first time in more than a century.

Visiting & Access

Seahorse Key is accessible only by boat. The lighthouse normally opens during a small number of announced open houses, often in summer and during Cedar Key’s fall seafood festival. Wildlife nesting restrictions can close the island seasonally, so verify dates and transportation before visiting.

Current Status

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service owns the island, and the University of Florida maintains a marine laboratory there. The relighted lighthouse serves as a historic beacon rather than a primary navigation aid. The dwelling and tower are open only during scheduled events.

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