What Is the Key West Lighthouse?
This was the main lighthouse for ships en route to Key West from 1848 until 1969!
What Makes It Historical?
Like many lighthouses, the one at Key West is not the first draft! The first went up in 1825 when the U.S. Navy built a base here, 65 feet tall and lit by 15 whale oil lamps with reflectors. The first keepers were Michael and Barbara Mabrity, though seven years into their keeping, Mr. Mabrity contracted yellow fever and died! That made Mrs. Mabrity head keeper, which was super rare, practically unheard of, at that time!
Mrs. Mabrity spent 32 years as Key West Lighthouse keeper, and it was far from easy! Not only did she lose her husband, but in 1846, with the Great Havana Hurricane, she also lost six of her children and the original lighthouse itself! A second lighthouse went up in 1848, powered by 13 amps and 21 reflectors, later featuring a third order Fresnel lens, and while Mrs. Mabrity kept running it until she was in her 80s, she was eventually replaced because of her pro-Confederate views in pro-Union Key West! The lighthouse of today dates back to 1894 when it was expanded to 100 feet in height to still be seen over the trees and new houses. It was electrified, automated, then decomissioned in 1969. Today, it’s a museum!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Become a member of the Key West Art & Historical Society!
- Donate to Key West Art & Historical Society!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
938 Whitehead St
Key West, FL 33040
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
The museum is open daily from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM!