St. Johns River Light facts for kids
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 St. Johns River Light
Location in Florida
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| Location | Near the mouth of the St. Johns River on the property of Naval Station Mayport |
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| Coordinates | 30°23′36.77″N 81°25′33.49″W / 30.3935472°N 81.4259694°W |
| Year first lit | 1859 |
| Deactivated | 1929 |
| Foundation | Natural / Emplaced |
| Construction | Brick |
| Tower shape | Conical tower |
| Height | 81 feet (25 m) |
| Original lens | Third order Fresnel lens |
The St. Johns River Light is an old lighthouse in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. It stands close to where the St. Johns River meets the ocean. You can find it on the land of Naval Station Mayport in the Mayport area.
This lighthouse was built in 1858. It stopped working in 1929. A special ship called a lightship took its place. People sometimes call it the "Old St. Johns River Light". This helps tell it apart from the newer St. Johns Light, which was built in 1954.
The Old St. Johns River Light was the third lighthouse built at the mouth of the St. Johns River. It is the oldest one still standing today. In fact, it's the oldest building still around in Mayport. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. It was also repaired and made new again in 1980.
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History of the St. Johns River Light
The St. Johns River Light was built in 1858. It stands in Mayport, on land that is now part of Naval Station Mayport. This was the third lighthouse to be built at the mouth of the St. Johns River. It was designed to fix problems that the earlier lighthouses had. These problems included not being easy to see and falling apart due to the water.
Earlier Lighthouses at St. Johns River
The first St. Johns lighthouse was built in 1830. This happened after the United States bought Florida. The U.S. Congress paid for it. However, it was built too close to the water. It had to be torn down just three years later.
The second lighthouse was built in 1835. It was about a mile further up the river. But tall sand dunes often blocked the light from ships at sea. By 1853, the sand around its base was washing away. So, plans were made to replace it. This lighthouse was soon left empty and covered by the river. You could still see its old parts in the early 1900s.
Building the Current Lighthouse
The lighthouse you see today was built in 1858. To avoid the problems of the earlier ones, it was made much taller. It was also built further away from the water.
During the American Civil War, the lighthouse light was turned off. This was done by soldiers from the Confederate side. It likely happened on July 10, 1861. The lighthouse keeper, John Daniels, stayed at the lighthouse even after the light was out.
When soldiers from the Union side took over the area, Daniels was arrested. They thought he was sending light signals from the tower at night. A Union soldier wrote about the arrest in his diary. He said they went to arrest the keeper. The keeper said he didn't know about any light. He also said he supported the Union. But they still took him away. The soldier felt bad for the keeper's wife, who was very scared. It turned out the light was just the moon rising. It was only a reflection that lasted a short time.
The lighthouse light was turned back on on July 4, 1867. In 1887, people planned to make the tower even taller. They wanted to add another twelve feet. But a study later showed this plan was never carried out. However, the top part of the lighthouse was changed. The copper dome you see today was added.
Later Years and Restoration
In 1929, the St. Johns River Light stopped working. It had served for over 70 years. A lightship called LV-84 took its place. This ship was anchored about 8 miles offshore from the river's mouth.
In the 1940s, the U.S. Navy bought most of Mayport. This included the land around the lighthouse. They built Naval Station Mayport there. The Navy tore down a small building attached to the lighthouse. They also raised the ground around it by about seven feet. Because of this, the original front door is now buried. You can only get into the tower through a window that is eight feet off the ground.
In 1954, the modern St. Johns Light was built. It replaced the lightship. This new lighthouse is about two miles southeast of the Old St. Johns River Light.
The Old St. Johns River Light was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. It is the oldest building still standing in Mayport. The Jacksonville Historic Landmarks Commission called it one of the most important historic buildings in Jacksonville. In 1980, it was repaired by Shepard Associates.
Today, the lighthouse is 85 feet tall. It has a red brick tower. Inside, there are slate stairs and a balcony. The top part, where the light used to be, is white. It has a copper dome on top. A local group, the Mayport Lighthouse Association, hopes to fix it up completely. They want to open it for people to visit.
