Rebecca Shoal Light, Rebecca Shoal, west of the Marquesas Keys, Dry Tortugas, Florida
Screwpile style lighthouse built in 1886.
REBECCA SHOAL LIGHT
Location: ON A CORAL BANK 43 MILES WEST OF KEY WEST
Station Established: 1886
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: N/A
Height of Focal Plane: 66'
Operational? NO
Automated: 1925
Deactivated: 1953
Foundation Materials: IRON SCREWPILES
Construction Materials: IRON AND WOOD
Tower Shape: TWO AND A HALF STORY DWELLING WITH LIGHT ON TOP
Relationship to Other Structure: INTEGRAL
Original Lens: FOURTH ORDER FRESNEL LENS
Historical Information:
- The first attempt to build this light was started in 1854 under the direction of Lt. George Meade, but the construction was continually interrupted by storms. The first tower was destroyed in 1858 before it was even completed. It was finally completed in 1886.
- By 1953 the structure had deteriorated so much it was removed and a skeletal tower was placed on the original pilings. This was later replaced by another tower.
- The skeletal tower was destroyed by a hurricane in 2004.
- The original lens was moved to a private lighthouse in Key Largo.
There is currently another skeletal tower which displays a 250mm optic which flashes every 6 seconds and has a range of approximately 9 miles.