St. Marks Light, Coastal lighthouse in Wakulla County, Florida.
St. Marks Light is a white tower located where the St. Marks River meets the Gulf of Mexico, rising approximately 22 meters above the water. The structure stands on a piece of land surrounded by wetlands and protected by the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.
The first tower, built of brick under a contract with Winslow Lewis, was lit in 1831 by keeper Samuel Crosby. Erosion forced its dismantling in 1842, and it was rebuilt farther inland with the original lantern and lighting apparatus. In 1865 Confederate troops burned the interior and removed the lens; the postwar rebuild raised the focal plane to 82 feet (25 m).
The lighthouse and the surrounding St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge serve as the setting of Jeff VanderMeer's 2014 horror novel Annihilation and its 2018 film adaptation. Exterior shots were made at the tower and in the refuge, though the film itself was not shot there.
The visitor center at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge provides parking and trails that lead to the lighthouse. Sturdy shoes are recommended, as the paths cross marshy terrain and weather can change quickly in this coastal area.
The lighthouse and the surrounding St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge serve as the setting of Jeff VanderMeer's 2014 horror novel Annihilation and its 2018 film adaptation. Exterior shots were made at the lighthouse and refuge, though the finished film was not shot there.
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