Cape Florida Lighthouse at 200: History, Preservation, and Environmental Threats

A Historic Beacon on Key Biscayne

• 💡 The Cape Florida Lighthouse, a 95-foot tall icon and the oldest building in Miami, celebrates its 200th anniversary.
• 📌 Known also as "Elarito," it symbolizes a beacon and a signal for safely returning home.
• 🔑 It stands as an anchor and a symbol for Key Biscayne, offering a spectacular 360-degree view from its height.

Resilience Through History

• 🛡️ Built in 1825, the lighthouse has endured erosion, hurricanes, and an attack by the Seminoles in 1836.
• 🏴‍☠️ The island was a popular spot for pirates and a site for illegal activities like bootlegging.
• ✊ The lighthouse attack by Seminole people was a statement of resistance against further violence brought by ships.
• 🌊 Before the lighthouse, shipwrecks were common, with some settlers intentionally disabling lights to loot vessels.

The Saltwater Underground Railroad

• 🛤️ The area served as part of the "Saltwater Underground Railroad," a route for enslaved men to escape to freedom in the Bahamas.
• 🗺️ This was a major departure point for enslaved people from Georgia and South Carolina seeking freedom in British territory.
• 👥 Many who left from here were Black Seminoles, whose community still exists today.

Preservation and Restoration Efforts

• 🛠️ The Friends of Cape Florida, a group celebrating its 25th anniversary, actively fundraises and raises visibility for the lighthouse.
• ✨ Major renovations included replacing 96 plexiglass panels in the lantern room with real glass, a challenging task due to custom sizing.
• 🚶 Visitors can climb 117 steps to the top, experiencing the same breathtaking views as the original lighthouse keepers.
• 🌟 The lighthouse remains a functional navigational aid, blinking every six seconds from dusk to dawn.

Environmental Threats and Future Hopes

• ⚠️ Rising sea levels, climate change, and coastal erosion pose significant threats to the lighthouse and its foundation.
• 💧 Sunny day flooding and king tides are impacting the base, staircase, and exterior paint.
• 🏛️ The surrounding Bill Bags Cape Florida State Park contains over a dozen archaeological sites with artifacts that could be lost.
• 🤝 There is a call for community collaboration to build a resilient future and preserve this historic landmark for generations to come.

Celebrating the Bicentennial

• 🎉 The Friends of Cape Florida organize events like sunset tours, stargazing, music in the park, and a popular annual "Full Moon Party" around the lighthouse.
• 🌕 These events not only celebrate the lighthouse but also generate funds for park programming and preservation efforts.
• 💫 The lighthouse and its surroundings offer a magical experience, especially during events under the moonlight and stars.