Pensacola Light facts for kids
| Location | Entrance to Pensacola Bay |
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The Pensacola Light is a famous lighthouse located at Pensacola Bay in Florida. It helps ships find their way safely into the bay. This lighthouse is actually the third one built to guide ships in this area. Before the current lighthouse, there was even a special ship called a lightship that served as a floating light.
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History of the Pensacola Light
The very first "Pensacola Light" was not a building at all! It was a ship named Aurora Borealis. This lightship was moved to Pensacola in 1823. Its job was to shine a light to guide ships.
However, the sea near Pensacola Bay could be very rough. The lightship had to anchor inside the bay entrance. This meant ships far out at sea couldn't always see its light. It wasn't the best solution for guiding ships safely.
Building the First Towers
Because the lightship wasn't working well, a tower was built in 1825. This first lighthouse tower was 40 feet tall. It stood on a 40-foot hill near the bay entrance. But even this tower had a problem. Trees nearby and on Santa Rosa Island sometimes blocked its light.
So, in 1858, a brand new lighthouse tower was built. This new tower was on the north side of the bay entrance. It was lit for the first time on January 1, 1859. This is the lighthouse you can still see today!
The Current Lighthouse
The current Pensacola Lighthouse is 150 feet tall. It also sits on a 40-foot hill. This hill is located on the Pensacola Naval Air Station. This means the light shines from 190 feet above sea level.
The new location was much better. It allowed the lighthouse to help ships cross the "Pensacola Bar." This is a shallow area at the bay's entrance. For a while, there was also a smaller light called the Pensacola Bar Beacon. It was a 26-foot tall wooden tower. This beacon helped guide ships even more precisely. It was removed in the early 1900s.
The Lighthouse During the Civil War
When the American Civil War began, Pensacola was controlled by Confederate forces. However, Fort Pickens, across the bay, remained under Union control.
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 battle with cannons between the two sides. The lighthouse tower was damaged during this fight.
Later, Union forces took control of Pensacola. In 1863, the Pensacola Light was lit again. It used a new lens at that time. A much bigger and brighter lens was put in the tower in 1869.
Originally, the tower was all white. Later, the top two-thirds of the tower were painted black. This made it easier to see during the day. In 1939, electricity was added to the lighthouse. This was a big change! Before electricity, someone had to wind up the light's clockwork every 4 and a half hours to keep it spinning. The light became automatic in 1965. This meant no one had to live there just to keep the light working.
The lighthouse tower and its nearby buildings were recognized as important historical places in 1974. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 1989, the lighthouse and the keeper's quarters were featured in a book about Florida's historic buildings.
The Pensacola Light Today
The Pensacola Light is still an active light that helps ships navigate. It continues to guide boats safely into Pensacola Bay.
For many years, the Coast Guard Auxiliary helped give tours of the lighthouse. Now, the Pensacola Lighthouse Association takes care of the lighthouse. They also run the tours. Since early 2011, the lighthouse has been open to the public seven days a week.
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The old keeper's quarters, which is the house next to the lighthouse tower, is now a museum. It also has a gift shop. The Pensacola Lighthouse Association manages both the museum and the gift shop. This association is a non-profit group. They have a small team and many wonderful volunteers who help keep the lighthouse open and running.
