Fowey Rocks Light

Fowey Rocks Light is a cast iron structure standing 34 meters tall with a skeletal tower framework painted in brown and white, featuring a spiral staircase leading to the lantern room. The lighthouse sits on a reef off Key Biscayne and marks a critical navigation point for ships entering the waters of South Florida.

The lighthouse began operations in 1878 as a replacement for Cape Florida Light, positioned to mark the entrance to Hawk Channel through the Florida Keys. It was built at this strategic location to guide vessels safely through dangerous reef-filled waters.

The name comes from HMS Fowey, a Royal Navy frigate that sank on nearby reefs in 1748, a shipwreck that shaped local maritime memory. This connection to naval history remains part of how people understand this stretch of water.

The lighthouse operates automatically using solar panels for power generation, with its rotating lantern visible from over 17 miles at sea. The best view of the structure comes from the water or nearby boats, as the reef location makes independent access challenging.

The structure survived the devastating 1935 Labor Day Hurricane despite losing its first observation deck, and remains the last operating reef light in the Florida Keys. This resilience makes it a remarkable survivor from an earlier era of maritime safety.