A Time to Live
Melody Hendrix
The Ponce De Leon Inlet Lighthouse and Museum
Located 10 miles south of Daytona Beach in the Town of Ponce Inlet. 4931 S Peninsula Dr, Ponce Inlet, Fl 32127
Situated on the north bank of Ponce Inlet where the Halifax and Indian Rivers flow into the Atlantic Ocean, the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and Museum is a must see for anyone interested in Florida, maritime, or local history.
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!
The present light station was completed on the north side of the inlet in 1887. The new tower had a 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 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.
Lighthouse Facts:
The tower is 175 feet tall
It is the tallest lighthouse in Florida
There are 213 steps to the top of the tower
The tower beacon flashes six times in 15 seconds followed by a 15 second eclipse
The light from the beacon can be seen up to 18 miles out to sea
Approximately 2.5 million bricks were used to build the Light Station
The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is one of only 12 lighthouses in the country to have been designated a National Historic Landmark.
Looking up from the ground floor
Looking out from the top
Staircase and lighthouse window
Lighthouse Point Park
5000 South Atlantic Avenue
Ponce Inlet, FL 32127
(386) 756-7488
Consisting of 52 acres of pristine land on the north side of Ponce DeLeon Inlet, this park features fishing, nature trails, an observation deck and tower, swimming, picnicking and birding.
The southern tip of Ponce Inlet. The natural beauty of the undisturbed land has been preserved for all to enjoy. Dolphins frequent the shoreline, gopher tortoises can be found in sandy areas, and other wildlife. There is also a designated area for your dog.
The Ayers Davies Lens Exhibit Building houses one of the finest collections of restored Fresnel lenses in the world, including the rotating first order Fresnel lens from the Cape Canaveral lighthouse and the restored original Ponce Inlet lighthouse first order Fresnel lens.
Smyrna Dunes Park
https://www.volusia.org/services/public-works/coastal-division/coastal-parks/smyrna-dunes-park.stml
From Lighthouse Point Park, you can see Smyrna Dunes Park on the other side of the river.
Although only a short distance away across the inlet, it is a distance to drive from one to another. The lighthouse is entered through Port Orange/Daytona and Smyrna Dunes Park is entered through New Smyrna Beach.
The Dunes Park is also dog friendly.
It has long boardwalks to the beach and river.
This park is similar as the same activities available and has beautiful dunes also.
Both of these parks are scenic, peaceful and great to spend the day in.
Next week we will drive north on A1A to Washington Oaks State Park and Matanzas Inlet.
Wonderful Post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
love those shots of the stairwells!
LikeLiked by 1 person