St. Johns River Lighthouse

Nov. 1, 2019
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St. Johns River Lighthouse (St. John's River Lighthouse), Mayport, Jacksonville, Florida

ST. JOHNS RIVER (MAYPORT) LIGHT

Location: ENTRANCE ST. JOHNS RIVER 
Station Established: 1830 
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1859 
Operational? NO 
Automated: Yes 
Deactivated: 1929 
Foundation Materials: NATURAL/EMPLACED 
Construction Materials: BRICK 
Tower Shape: CONICAL 
Markings/Pattern: RED W/WHITE LANTERN
Height: 80-feet 
Relationship to Other Structure: SEPARATE 
Original Lens: THIRD ORDER, FRESNEL 1867 

Historical Information:

  • 1828 - 1st Congressional appropriation for the lighthouse.
  • 1830 - 1st tower built.
  • 1835 - 1st tower torn down, 2nd one built.
  • 1859 - Present tower built.
  • Civil War - Confederate sympathizer shot out tower’s light.
  • 1867 - Tower relit on July 4.
  • 1887 - Tower raised to present height.
  • 1929 - Lighthouse was replaced by a lightship.
  • 1954 - Modern beacon on naval station replaced the lightship.
  • 1969 - Coast Guard turned the lighthouse over to the Navy.
  • 1982 - Placed on National Register of Historic Places.

Keepers:

  • William Livingston (1830-1831)
  • Roque Leonardy (1831-1834)
  • John Warren (1835 - unknown)
  • Henry Maxey (unknown)
  • Matthew Philips (unknown)
  • John Daniels (Keeper during Civil War)
  • William Henry Huston (1/14/1881 - 7/9/1882)
  • George C. Acosta (7/9/1842 - 9/9/1842)
  • William Henry Huston (9/9/1842 - possibly 1849)

Researched and written by Marie Vincent, a volunteer through the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society.