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This Blog is part of our travel series covering the state of Florida in the United States.
Ponce de leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum
The Ponce de Leon Lighthouse & Museum are located in the quaint town of Ponce Inlet
The Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum is clearly a must-see on any trip to the Daytona Beach area.
Situated near the southern tip of the lengthy barrier island east of the Halifax River in the town of Ponce Inlet, the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse is the tallest (175 feet/53.34 meters) lighthouse in the state of Florida (USA).
The Ponce de Leon Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in the state of Florida
The Lighthouse & Museum grounds are easily accessible, so it's better to go earlier to avoid the big crowds around lunchtime and early afternoon. And, depending on the time of year you visit, mornings may be preferable to the afternoon heat.
The lighthouse complex is beautifully landscaped and well maintained. It's no wonder the museum allows small intimate weddings on the premises.
The lighthouse grounds are well manicured and provide a beautiful setting
The prices are very reasonable. A General Admission ticket (Adults $6.95/Children $1.95) allows visitors to explore the museum and the lighthouse grounds. The museum staff also offer narrated group tours through all the museum facilities and the lighthouse.
We have a particular interest in lighthouses and make it a point to visit them whenever we're in range, especially in areas we haven't visited before.
Ponce Inlet Lighthouse came highly recommended, and they allow you to climb to the very top. 175 feet/53.34 meters doesn't sound that high, but, let's just say, my fear of heights caused us to chicken out less than half way! Still, it was worth trying...
The viewing platform is the reward if you make the steep climb to the top
For the brave at heart, the museum also has special RSVP Events that grant special access to the premises outside of regular hours. They have a monthly Climb to the Moon event ($35) that appears to be quite popular. This climb is held on the eve of each full moon and is limited to 15 participants.
Another event features a Climb with the Keeper. This made us wish we could make it to the top!
After our failed attempt to climb the lighthouse, we toured the more-grounded museum facilities and learned a lot more about its origins.
Climbing the lighthouse steps was high enough for Rainman
The lighthouse was completed in 1887 in an attempt to provide a guidepost for seafarers wanting to mark the location of the only inlet between St. Augustine and Cape Canaveral.
The early incarnation of the lighthouse required three keepers.
In those days, the lens had to be illuminated by a kerosene lamp at all hours of the day and night. The keeper would have to climb the lighthouse with a heavy load of kerosene. Once at the top, he (or she?) had to perform the dangerous maneuver of hoisting himself onto the platform that held the lantern. And we thought just climbing to the top was scary!
Rooms in some of the lighthouse keeper's homes can be viewed through the windows
Several of the original lighthouse keepers' dwellings are still on display. The rooms are decorated with period furnishings, but can only be viewed through the buildings' windows.
One dwelling is The Woodshed Theater, today used as a cool respite for viewing a 20-minute film on lighthouse history. It was a welcome break from the heat, while providing some interesting information.
Armed with the historical context and a Museum Map, we next headed over to the Ayres Davies Lens Exhibit Building. They have quite an impressive exhibit of lenses.
Lenses in the Ayres Davies Lens Exhibit are impressive in scale and level of preservation
Since the 1990s, the center has become expert in restoring lighthouse lenses, including the original 1887 first order Fresnel lens as well as the 1933 Ponce Inlet Fresnel lens.
The entrance to the Lens Exhibit Building immediately commands your attention.
The restored Cape Caneveral Lighthouse's First Order Lens is showcased on the first floor. The scale of the lens is enormous. The US Coast Guard relocated it to Ponce Inlet for restoration and display in the 1990s. The lens had been damaged by the frequent rocket launches in the vicinity of the Canaveral Light.
This First Order rotating Fresnell lens was removed from the lighthouse at Cape Canaveral for restoration & display here
The rest of the lens displays are just as impressive.
Finishing with the rest of the historical buildings and the gift shop, we were able to come away with a much better understanding of the lighthouse experience in the United States. The Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum experience was one of the most informative lighthouse tours we've ever seen.
Huge thumbs up from us! Visit! Visit! Visit!