• Florida Lighthouses on the Internet

Photo © Sean Thompson

Boca Grande, Florida

Harbour Lights Limited Edition #531
2000 Collectors Society Exclusive

Legend has it that Gasparilla Island on Florida's Gulf Coast was named for the infamous pirate José Gaspar. The cold blooded buccaneer often kidnapped women and raided passing ships, stealing their gold and silver.

After the United States acquired Florida, Gasparilla Island became an obvious choice for a lighthouse as vessels transported their bounty to and from Charlotte Harbor. The Lighthouse Board commissioned the building of Boca Grande Light, originally called Charlotte Harbor Light Station. The three-and-a-half order Fresnel lens was lighted in 1890, beaming a white light, varied by a flash of red every twenty seconds.

Over the next seventy-five years, the island's focus shifted from commerce to tourism.  In the 1950's and 60's, the entire island began to erode. The 200-foot beach separating the lighthouse from the ocean dwindled to less than 20 feet. In 1966, the Coast Guard abandoned the structure and moved the lens to the rear range light. 

The lighthouse was vandalized over the years and with the rising waters, the pilings were in water during high tide. Concerned islanders formed the Boca Grande Conservation Council to save the lighthouse. The lighthouse was relit in 1986.

* Available for order by members of the Harbour Lights Collectors Society from May 1, 2000 until April 30, 2001.

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Photographs by Paul L. Brady  © Harbour Lights  December 13, 2001