Anclote Keys Light, Lighthouse on Anclote Key, Florida, US
Anclote Keys Light is a lighthouse located on a barrier island about 3 miles (5 km) offshore from Tarpon Springs on Florida's Gulf Coast. The tower features a square skeletal iron framework painted brown with a black lantern room at the top and stands 31 meters tall.
The lighthouse was built in 1887 to guide ships through the Gulf of Mexico coastal waters and operated with its original third-order Fresnel lens until it became automated in 1952.
The light is listed as number 1555 in the US Coast Guard light lists, and its French admiralty number is J3273. Keepers lived on the island from 1887; Robert S. Meyer served two separate terms, 1891–1914 and 1923–1933, and James L. Pippin held the post from 1933 into at least 1949.
Reaching the lighthouse requires bringing or renting a private boat since the site lies several miles offshore from the mainland. Visitors should check weather and tide conditions before planning their trip.
The light was deactivated in 1984 after vandalism at the automated site interfered with its operation, and the tower was later transferred to the State of Florida. It was relit in 2003 with a reproduction fourth-order Fresnel lens. The light is listed as number 1555 in the USCG light lists.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,659 contributors worldwide.
