Pensacola Light facts for kids
{{Infobox lighthouse | location = Entrance to Pensacola Bay | module =
| Original lens | Argand lamp with parabolic reflectors |
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} The Pensacola Light is a famous lighthouse located in Pensacola Bay, Florida. Lighthouses are tall towers with bright lights that help ships find their way safely, especially at night or in bad weather. The Pensacola Light is actually the third light to guide ships here. The very first one was a special boat called a lightship, named the Aurora Borealis. Today, it still helps ships navigate the waters.
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Pensacola Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters
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| Area | less than one acre |
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| Built | 1859 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000622 |
| Added to NRHP | July 15, 1974 |
History of the Pensacola Light
The very first light for Pensacola Bay was a boat called the Aurora Borealis. This lightship was moved to Pensacola in 1823. Before that, it was at the mouth of the Mississippi River. However, the Aurora Borealis often faced rough seas. It had to stay anchored inside the bay, behind Santa Rosa Island. This meant ships outside the bay could not always see its light clearly.
Building the Lighthouse Towers
In 1825, a new plan was made. Workers built a 40-foot-tall tower on a 40-foot-high bluff. This spot was at the south entrance to Pensacola Bay. But even this tower had problems. Trees near the tower and on Santa Rosa Island sometimes blocked its light.
So, in 1858, a brand new tower was built. This time, it was on the north side of the bay entrance. The light from this new tower first shone on January 1, 1859. This new tower, which is the one you see today, is 150 feet tall. It also sits on a 40-foot-high bluff. This means the light itself is 190 feet above sea level! The lighthouse is located on the Pensacola Naval Air Station.
The new location was much better. It allowed the lighthouse to guide ships across the Pensacola Bar. This is a shallow area that ships need to cross carefully. For a while, there was also a smaller light called the Pensacola Bar Beacon. It was a 26-foot-tall wooden tower. It helped ships even more by showing a fixed white light. This beacon was removed in the early 1900s.
The Lighthouse During the Civil War
When the Civil War began, Pensacola was controlled by Confederate forces. But Fort Pickens, located across the bay, stayed in Union hands. The Confederate soldiers removed the special lens from the lighthouse. They also took most of the lighthouse supplies for the war.
In November 1861, there was a big fight. Cannons were fired between the two sides. This battle damaged the lighthouse tower. Later, the Confederate forces left Pensacola. Union soldiers then took control. In 1863, the Pensacola Light was lit again. It used a new, smaller lens at that time.
Modernizing the Light
In 1869, a much bigger and brighter lens was placed in the tower. During the Civil War, the tower was painted all white. Later, the top two-thirds of the tower were painted black. This is how it looks today.
Electricity came to the lighthouse in 1939. Before that, someone had to wind up the clockwork that made the light spin every 4½ hours! Electricity made this job much easier. In 1965, the light became automated. This means it could run by itself without a keeper always being there. In 1974, the lighthouse tower and its nearby buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect important historical places.
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In 1989, the lighthouse and the keeper's quarters were featured in a book. The book was called A Guide to Florida's Historic Architecture.
The Pensacola Light Today
The Pensacola Light is still an active light. It continues to help ships find their way safely into Pensacola Bay. For a while, tours of the lighthouse were stopped. But since 2011, the lighthouse has been open to the public seven days a week!
The Pensacola Lighthouse Association now takes care of the lighthouse. They also run the tours. The old keeper's quarters, which is right next to the lighthouse tower, is now a museum and a gift shop. The Pensacola Lighthouse Association is a non-profit group. They have a small team and many wonderful volunteers who help keep the lighthouse open and amazing for everyone to visit.
