Whenever I mention the lighthouse in St. Augustine, Florida, on Anastasia Island, I know immediately if that person has been there. Gasps of “Now that’s a climb” or some variation usually occur. The 209 steps appear daunting, and it can seem as if the winding spiral staircase is never going to end , but suddenly it does, and the 165-foot climb is all but forgotten. It’s a little bit like giving birth. It’s labor intensive getting to the top, but once there and walking around 360-degree balcony, the climb is all but forgotten.
Its black and white striped spiral column topped by the light itself wrapped in red can be seen from land and water for miles. The chosen spot on the north end of the island near an inlet was originally chosen by the Spanish in the 16th century. They built a watchtower to keep an eye on the native Timucuan population and to help guide vessels into the oldest port in the country. But it also drew the English pirate Sir Francis Drake in 1586. After pillaging, Drake and his men burned the tower down.
The United States commissioned Florida’s first lighthouse in the same spot in 1824. It survived until after the Civil War when erosion began to compromise the foundation. Fortunately, a new lighthouse, 350 yards inland, was completed in 1874. Six years later, the original lighthouse collapsed into the inlet.
Today, the St. Augustine Lighthouse is restored, and its grounds are home to a museum, which chronicles and preserves the maritime history of our country’s oldest European settlement. The two-story keeper’s home offers a look into life during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Coast Guard Quarters used during WWII provide another aspect of the area’s history.
Of all the historical sites to visit in this tourist destination, I recommend the lighthouse as the best place for its authentic examination of the past and for its stunning views of coastal north Florida.
Visit the St. Augustine Lighthouse
Hours: From October through February: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm daily. From March through September: 9:00 am – 6:30 pm daily. Hours may vary during holiday season.
Cost (includes climb and admission to the grounds): Adult – $17.95; Children (12 and under) – $12.95; Seniors (60+) $15.95
Danger lurks in the swamps and wetlands of Florida. The Spanish conquistadors threaten the native people. A greedy conglomerate destroys anything in its path. Innocent and passionate people throughout the centuries engage in a battle simply to survive.
Traverse the years from 1760 to the present day in a constantly changing environment as the political thriller unfolds.
Native Lands also goes back in time to form a historical perspective on Florida’s Native Americans. Join Locka and Mali as they lead their tribe of Timucuans away from the Spanish near St. Augustine in 1760 and settle into a new life in the Everglades alongside the Calusa Indians. Their progeny grow and hide in the swamp, attempting to keep their bloodlines pure.
Hundreds of years later, the exiled native Floridians thought to be extinct, rise up and form their own band of warriors to fight a conglomerate intent on destroying the last vestiges of the natural environment of Florida. With the assistance of nature, they attempt to halt the annihilation of the natural world they treasure.
Mangrove Mike, Joey Cosmos, and Rob Zodiac have lived their entire lives with the secret of their heritage kept hidden until they learn that human connections transcend the fear of extinction. Join them, along with Barbara Evans in the Everglades and Emily Booth in St. Augustine as they form the foundation and prepare to fight forces, which are intent on completing manmade “living zones” throughout Florida.
It’s a dangerous journey for this mismatched group of fighters as they attempt to halt the destruction of the natural world they treasure. Cultural boundaries established centuries ago are erased as love and nature seek the balance lost during the battle for power and control of the last of the Florida frontier.
P.C. ZICK 