St. Johns Light facts for kids
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 St. Johns Light
Location in Florida
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| Location | 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) south of the mouth of the St. Johns River, on Naval Station Mayport, Florida |
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| Coordinates | 30°23′10.14″N 81°23′52.8″W / 30.3861500°N 81.398000°W |
| Year first lit | 1954 |
| Automated | 1967 |
| Foundation | Concrete |
| Construction | Concrete |
| Tower shape | Square tower with beveled corners |
| Markings / pattern | White tower on building |
| Height | 66 feet (20 m) |
| Focal height | 83 feet (25 m) |
| Original lens | Crouse-Hinds 250 kilocandela airway beacon |
| Current lens | VRB-25 system |
| Range | 19 nautical miles (35 km; 22 mi) |
| Characteristic | Group flashing white 20s |
| Admiralty number | J2858 |
| ARLHS number | USA-795 |
| USCG number | 3-575 |
The St. Johns Light is a working lighthouse in Jacksonville, Florida. It helps guide ships safely into the St. Johns River. This lighthouse was built in 1954. You can find it on Naval Station Mayport in the Mayport area. It's actually the fourth lighthouse built near the river's mouth since 1830. In 2018, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site.
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Why Was the St. Johns Light Built?
The St. Johns Light was built in 1954. It stands on the land of Naval Station Mayport. This spot is about three-quarters of a mile south of where the St. Johns River meets the ocean. This lighthouse is the fourth one to stand in the Mayport area.
Early Lighthouses of St. Johns
The very first lighthouse here was built in 1830. This was soon after the U.S. bought Florida. But it was built too close to the water. Just three years later, it had to be taken down.
A second lighthouse was built in 1835. It was about a mile up the river. However, moving sand dunes often made it hard to see the light from the sea. By 1853, the sand had damaged its base. Plans were made to replace it. The lighthouse was left unused. Its old parts could still be seen in the early 1900s.
The Old St. Johns River Light
In 1858, the Old St. Johns River Light was built. To avoid past problems, it was built away from the shore. It was also much taller. This lighthouse worked for over 70 years. It was finally turned off in 1929.
That same year, a lightship called LV-84 took its place. This ship floated about 8 miles offshore from the river's mouth. The Old St. Johns River Lighthouse is the oldest building still standing in Mayport. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. It was fixed up in 1980.
The Modern St. Johns Light
In 1954, the current St. Johns Light was built. It replaced the lightship. The lighthouse became automatic in 1967. This means it could run without people always being there.
The lighthouse is made of concrete. The concrete was poured all at once. It has never had a traditional lantern. Instead, it used an airway-beacon style light. This type of light is often used at airports. In 1998, this light was replaced with a Vega VRB-25 system. The lighthouse is 64 feet tall. Its light can be seen from 22 miles away.
The east side of the lighthouse was updated. This work was done by the Northeast Florida Chapter of the Chief Petty Officers Association (CPOA). On September 26, 2014, this part of the lighthouse was named after John G. Cathey. He was honored for his hard work and dedication.
