Boca Chita Key Historic District

Boca Chita Key Historic District is a protected site on an island within Biscayne National Park that contains several limestone buildings from the 1930s era. The property holds a lighthouse, chapel, pavilion, and other structures that form a cohesive group of structures from that period.

Industrialist Mark C. Honeywell established this private retreat starting in 1937, constructing buildings over the following years for his personal use. The project was completed during an era when wealthy individuals were building private compounds on remote islands near Miami.

The buildings here reflect 1930s Florida design, with local limestone and concrete used in ways that were modern for their time. Walking through the site, you see how a wealthy industrialist wanted to create his own private retreat away from the mainland.

You can only reach this site by boat, with launching points available at marinas within and near Biscayne National Park. Plan to rent a boat or book a guided tour to get to the island, as there is no road or bridge access.

The prominent lighthouse on the property was never approved by the US Coast Guard and never functioned as an actual navigational aid. Instead it served as an architectural feature, a reminder that private structures could defy official standards.