The Amelia Island Light is the oldest existing lighthouse in the state of Florida in the United States. It is located near the northern end of Amelia Island in the northeastern part of the state. Its light marks St. Marys Entrance, the inlet leading to St. Marys River, the Cumberland Sound and the harbor of Fernandina Beach, Florida along the Amelia River. The white light flashes every ten seconds which turns red from 344° to 360° when covering the shoal water in the vicinity of Nassau Sound. The lighthouse is listed as number 565 in the United States Coast Guard light list.
History
The lighthouse was built in 1838 using materials taken from the former Little Cumberland Island Light on Cumberland Island in Georgia just north of the inlet, which had been built in 1820. The brick tower was originally tall placed on a hill. In 1881, a lantern was installed on the tower increasing the tower height to with the focal plane height of above sea level. The tower for the light formerly on Cumberland Island was taken down and rebuilt on Amelia Island in 1838. The new light was originally equipped with 14 lamps each with a reflector when first lit in 1839. The reflector size was increased to by 1848. This arrangement was replaced by a third-orderBarbier BenardFresnel lens in 1903, which is still used in the lighthouse. The Amelia Island Light was automated in 1970. The next-to-last civilian keeper of the lighthouse was Thomas J. O'Hagan, who was the son of the previous keeper, Thomas P. O'Hagan, and was married to a direct descendant of the first keeper, Amos Latham. The light remains in operation, but the lighthouse structure is now a private residence.
Management
The ownership of the lighthouse was transferred from the United States Coast Guard to the City ofFernandina Beachin 2001, which now maintains the historical monument. The Coast Guard, though, is still responsible for the function of the beacon. Access to the lighthouse is limited by the city. As of 2015, the lighthouse is not open to the public, except on Saturdays when the grounds are open for viewing for three hours only. The city also offers tours to the lighthouse twice a month.
