Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse

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Jupiter Inlet Light

(Jupiter, Florida)

Jupiter Inlet is located just a little bit north of West Palm Beach, Florida where the Loxahatchee River flows into the Atlantic Ocean. A lighthouse to mark the dangerous shoal off the Jupiter point was proposed as early as 1851. Money was appropriated in 1853. Fort Jupiter had been established during the Seminole War and this site was selected as the location to build the lighthouse.

It took a while to build the lighthouse due to several problems. One was the silting shut of the inlet I 1854. This forced them to send the construction materials down the Indian River, which was quite shallow. Then a third Seminole War in 1856 to 1858 delayed the progress. However, in 1860, the lighthouse and keepers quarters were completed. It was first lit on July 10, 1860.

The brick tower is 115 feet tall and sits on a small hill giving it an effective height above sea level of 146 feet. It was initially equipped with a 1^st-order rotating Fresnel Lens that emitted a fixed white light with a brighter flash every 90 seconds. The same lens is used today.

During the Civil War, the light was extinguished and parts of the light were removed. The parts were replaced after the war was over and the light was relit on June 28, 1866.

Changes occurred over the years. In 1883 a second keeper’s quarters was added. A telegraph station was added in 1898. The original keeper’s house burned down in 1927. In 1928 the light was electrified. In 1973 the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse was put on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1999 a major restoration took place. As part of the restoration the tower walls were cleaned of the fire engine red paint that had been applied. Although it was the desire to leave the tower in its natural brick color, the bricks used were of different colors, so after the restoration it was decided to paint the tower red but with a more subdued color red. The 1st order Fresnel lens was removed during restoration but returned afterwards. The lighthouse today flashes twice every 30 seconds.

Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse is administered by the Florida History Center and Museum. There is a museum and gift shop in the oil house.

Directions: From I-95 take the Jupiter exit and go east on SR 706 for about 4 miles. Turn left on US 1 and go over the drawbridge. Take the first right after the bridge and enter the Lighthouse Park.

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All pictures are the original work of Rick Totton and are protected under copyright laws.

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