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Most of the U.S. state of Florida occupies a long peninsula separating the Atlantic Ocean from the Gulf of Mexico; the state's western "panhandle" extends westward along the Gulf coast. As a result, Florida has by far the longest coastline of any state of the eastern U.S. Nearly all of the coast is low and sandy, broken occasionally by narrow inlets. For visibility at a distance, the Florida coast requires tall lighthouses. Florida has about three dozen lighthouses, including several of the country's most famous light towers. The Florida Lighthouse Association (FLA) works for preservation of all the light stations. Nearly all the onshore stations are now supported by local lighthouse societies. Efforts of FLA and local associations have led to restoration projects undertaken or planned at most of the onshore lighthouses. Few states have worked as hard on lighthouse preservation as Florida in recent years. This page covers lighthouses of Florida's west coast, facing the Gulf of Mexico. There's another page for the East Coast and Florida Keys. ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume J of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. USCG numbers are from Volume III of the U.S. Coast Guard Light List for lights of the peninsula and from Volume IV for lights of the state's western panhandle.
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![]() Anclote Kay Light, September 2005 U.S. Coast Guard photo by PA2 Tasha Tully |
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![]() Cape St. George Light, June 2008 photo copyright Michael Rowlett; used by permission |
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![]() Pensacola Light, March 2008 Creative Commons photo by P.M. Johnson |
Information available on lost lighthouses:
Notable faux lighthouses:
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Posted 2000. Checked and revised May 30, 2009. Lighthouses: 24. Site copyright 2009 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.