Sombrero Key Light facts for kids
 |
|
| Sombrero Key Light (from U.S. Coast Guard archives) | |
| Location | near Key Vaca in Marathon, Florida |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 24°37′40.46″N 81°06′41.78″W / 24.6279056°N 81.1116056°W |
| Year first lit | 1858 |
| Automated | 1960 |
| Deactivated | 2015 |
| Foundation | iron pilings with disks |
| Construction | cast iron |
| Tower shape | skeletal octagonal pyramid |
| Height | 142 feet (43 m) |
| Original lens | first-order Fresnel lens |
| Range | White 15 nautical miles (28 km; 17 mi), Red 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi) |
| Racon | "M" (— —) |
| Admiralty number | J2998 |
| ARLHS number | USA-768 |
| USCG number | 3-1000 |
The Sombrero Key Light is a famous lighthouse located off the coast of Marathon, Florida, near a place called Key Vaca. It stands tall on a coral reef that is mostly underwater. The name Sombrero Key comes from the Spanish language. Old maps show there was once a small island at this spot. However, by the late 1800s, the ocean had worn the island away. Now, only parts of the reef show at low tide. Because of this, the reef and the lighthouse are sometimes also called Dry Banks.
The lighthouse started guiding ships in 1858. It was updated in 1960 to work automatically, meaning no one had to live there anymore. In 2015, the lighthouse was turned off.
Lighthouse Structure
The Sombrero Key Light is built on strong iron poles with flat disks at the bottom. These help it stand firm in the water. The tower itself is made of cast iron and looks like a tall, thin, eight-sided pyramid. It is painted red and stands about 142 feet (43 meters) high.
The lighthouse has two main platforms. The lower platform is about 15 feet (4.6 meters) above the water. This area held tanks for water and fuel. Later, it also had a generator when the light was powered by electricity. There were also boat hoists and a workshop here.
The upper platform is about 40 feet (12 meters) above the water. This is where the lighthouse keepers, the people who worked at the lighthouse, used to live.
The Light Itself
The original light inside the lighthouse was a special type called a first-order Fresnel lens. This kind of lens is very powerful and helps the light shine far away. You can now see this original lens at the Key West Lighthouse Museum. The Sombrero Key Light is the tallest lighthouse in the Florida Keys. It was also the last lighthouse built under the direction of Lieutenant George Meade, who later became a famous general.
Lighthouse Keepers
For many years, brave people called lighthouse keepers lived and worked at Sombrero Key Light. They made sure the light was always shining to guide ships safely. Here are some of the people who served as keepers:
- Joseph Bethel (1858 – 1859)
- Joseph F. Papy (1859 – 1860)
- Anthony Davis (1860 – 1862)
- James Bryson (1862 – 1864)
- John H. Singleton (1864 – 1866)
- John Carroll (1866 – 1870)
- Peter Crocker (1870 – 1872)
- Adolphus A. Seymour (1872 – 1873)
- Jeremiah Buckley (1873 – 1881)
- Thomas J. Pinder (1881 – 1884)
- Melville Evans Spencer (1884 – 1889)
- Rudolph Rieke (1889 – 1904)
- John Watkins (1904 – 1913)
- Miguel Fabal (1913 – 1919)
- William H. Pierce (1919 – at least 1933)
- Edward P. Johnson (1936 – 1941)
- Furman C. Williamson (1958 –1960)
Future of the Lighthouse
In 2019, it was announced that the Sombrero Key Light would be offered to groups who want to protect it. This includes government groups, schools, and non-profit organizations. They could use it for things like education, parks, or historical preservation. This is part of a law called the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. If no suitable group wants it, the lighthouse might be sold to others.
