Loggerhead Key Lighthouse occupies the westernmost island of the Dry Tortugas. The tall conical brick tower, painted white below and black above, was designed to carry a first-order light across the dangerous reefs at the edge of the Gulf of Mexico.
The limited reach of the original Garden Key light led to construction of a much taller station on Loggerhead Key. The new tower was completed and first lighted in 1858 with a first-order Fresnel lens. Hurricane damage in 1873 prompted major repairs, including rebuilding the upper masonry and strengthening the lantern anchorage. The successful work allowed the tower to remain in service rather than be replaced. The light was electrified in 1931, the station was automated in 1987, and the official aid was decommissioned in 2015.
The public ferry and seaplane serve Garden Key, where the lighthouse can be seen in the distance. Reaching Loggerhead Key requires a private boat or permitted guide. The public pier is closed, so landing involves anchoring offshore and coming ashore carefully. The tower is closed.
The National Park Service owns and preserves Loggerhead Key Lighthouse within Dry Tortugas National Park. The tower no longer carries an official light and has no public interior access. The surrounding island is open subject to park, wildlife, and marine restrictions.
