St. Johns Lighthouse

Northeast Region

Mayport

Constructed in 1954. First Lighted in 1954.

At a Glance

Region

Northeast Region

Type

Historic Lighthouse

Latitude

30.38621

Longitude

-81.398

Mayport Lighthouse

Photo: Stan Beckstrom

Active: Yes

Characteristics: Four white flashes in twenty seconds.

Height: 64 feet, 71 steps

DayMark: White square tower on building

History: Constructed in 1954. First Lighted in 1954.

Lens: Original: A-61-A electric rotating beacon. Crouse-Hinds; 1954. Present: Vega VRB-25 rotating beacon, Vega Industries, 1998. Focal Plane: 80 feet.

Construction: Square masonry tower, reinforced concrete.

Other Buildings: 1950's keeper's dwelling.

Coordinates:
30 23 06 N
81 23 54 W

Operated by: United States Navy

Visit Status: Grounds Only

Facilities: None, no handicap access

Visitor Info: Tower not open to public. Grounds can be viewed with access to the Mayport Naval Station.

Contact:
Mayport Lighthouse Association, Inc.
4610 Ocean Street
Mayport Village, FL 32233

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Overview

St. Johns Lighthouse is a 64-foot Art Deco-influenced concrete tower near the mouth of the St. Johns River. Unlike traditional lighthouses, it has a flat roof and no lantern room; the beacon is mounted in the open above the square gray tower.

History

The lighthouse was constructed in 1954 to replace the offshore St. Johns Lightship and improve the marking of the river entrance. Its design included an internal pulley system that allowed the optic to be lowered into the tower for cleaning and repair. The station was automated in the late 1960s, and the nearby Coast Guard dwellings were later removed. The attached one-story wings continue to support Coast Guard operations, while a solar-powered rotating beacon remains on the roof.

Visiting & Access

The lighthouse is inside active Naval Station Mayport, where entry is generally restricted to people with authorized military access or a base sponsor. A distant exterior view may be possible from the beach at Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park. The tower is not open to the public.

Current Status

The Coast Guard owns and operates St. Johns Lighthouse as an active aid to navigation within the naval station. The structure remains in service, but both the grounds and tower are closed to general public access.

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