Anclote Key Florida
Harbour Lights #290

Visions of Florida include sandy beaches, turquoise waters and warm breezes these pleasant sensations bring forth feelings of contentment and relaxation. It is no wonder that early Americans quickly settled in this beautiful state! Dotting the western coast of Florida are exotic islands, each unique in their own right. One of these jewels of the gulf is Anclote Key, where nature comes together to create paradise.

Located at the mouth of the Anclote River (Anclote is Spanish for anchor), the remote, untamed island beckoned to mariners with its beauty. But the perilous underwater shoals created quite a hazard for those unaware of the danger. So officials sent supplies for a cast-iron tower to Anclote Key, to provide a marker for both day and night travelers.

Selecting a skeletal tower over a solid brick sentinel made good sense. Sand was an unsteady foundation for a masonry tower that could crack if shifted. The relatively lighter, cast-iron lighthouse was ideal for a beach site, and could be disassembled if a move became necessary. The intent was to have Anclote Key up and running before its eventual lighting in 1887. Ironically, the ship carrying the building materials sank. Divers retrieved the cast-iron pieces and other materials and delivered them to the island.

After its completion, the square, pyramidal tower reached a height of 102-feet and housed a third order Fresnel lens. The Lightkeepers accessed the gallery and lantern room through the cylindrical staircase running up the middle. Two identical Keeper’s Dwellings were erected nearby for the Head Keeper and Assistant Keeper to occupy with their families.

Living in quaint, clapboard houses, the Keepers led isolated lives and were men of few words. In fact, the Keeper’s Log reveals a mostly tranquil life, recording little activity. Some of the more “elaborate” entries included, “Baby born, Keeper’s wife. Bad weather.” One exciting and memorable rescue came when divers were stranded while hunting the area for sea sponges. They lived a virtually peaceful existence, set in a paradise marred only by the abundance of mosquitoes.

By the 1950’s, the beacon was converted to electricity and unmanned. Without Keepers nearby to guard the sentinel, vandals helped themselves to the tower. The sealed door was opened with a torch, the lantern’s glass was broken and the tower was unceremoniously decorated with graffiti. By 1985, the lighthouse was dormant and inoperative. Although battered and worn by time, the Anclote Key Lighthouse is amazingly well preserved. Having been built of cast-iron, it rusts only on the outside, preserving its core strength. With the proper care and maintenance, this sentinel could continue to grace the Florida coast for years to come.

Under the care of the Florida State Parks, plans are being made to restore the Anclote Key Lighthouse. The Tarpon Springs Historical Society owns the beacon, and intends to secure its future through the hard work of its dedicated volunteers. For more information about this proactive organization, please contact them at 160 East Tarpon Avenue, Tarpon Springs, Florida, 34689 or call (727) 943-4624.