History of the Ponce de Leon Inlet Light Station

Mosquito Inlet

When the first Spanish explorers came to the inlet in 1513, the Native Americans were already there. The Indians were using the area as a fishing camp and hunting ground. The Spanish called the area Los Mosquitos. Can you guess why?

In 1774, the British put the very first lighthouse on the north side of the Inlet. It wasn't really a lighthouse at all! It was simply a huge bonfire that was kept burning on top of a sand dune.

A real lighthouse was built in 1835 on the south side of Mosquito Inlet. This was a round tower made of bricks, and it stood 45 feet tall. Amazingly, the lamp was never lit! Why? The governor never ordered any fuel oil for the light! Next, a storm came and damaged the foundation. Then the Seminole Indians raided it and tried to burn the tower. Finally, in April of 1836, the lighthouse toppled over into the sea. This lighthouse lasted only a year and was never even lit!

Ponce de Leon Inlet

The present light station was completed on the north side of the inlet in 1887. The new tower had lamp at the top that was fueled by kerosene. This little light could be seen for more than 18 miles out in the ocean because it was magnified by a special Fresnel (pronounced Fra-NEL) lens.

The light station also had three houses for the lighthouse keepers and their families, as well as an oil storage building and other small buildings. This light station still stands today! The inlet's name has been changed from Mosquito Inlet to Ponce De Leon Inlet. Do you think this was a good idea?

The Ponce De Leon Inlet Light Station is the finest and most complete historic light station in the United States. All of the original buildings are still here. The light station is over 115 years old.

Lighthouse Facts:

• The tower is 175 feet tall.
• It is the tallest lighthouse in Florida and the second tallest in the nation.
• There are 203 steps to the observation deck.
• The current beacon at the top of the tower flashes six times in 15 seconds followed by 15 seconds of darkness.
• The tower's beacon can be seen for more than 16 nautical miles out to sea.

Written by Alice Morton, Pine Trails Elementary School, Ormond Beach, FL.