Sanibel Island Lighthouse

The Sanibel Island Lighthouse is located on Florida's Sanibel Island. The coast of Florida is made up of a number of barrier islands. Sanibel is one of these and sits in the Gulf, facing the flow of water sideways. This means the island is a shell-hunters dream. Shells are not the only highlight of the island. The lighthouse was erected and lighted in 1884. There are two keeper's quarters onsite. In 1962, the Coast Guard turned the lighthouse electric and removed the third-order Fresnal lens. It was replaced by a 300 millimeter drum lens. During the 1980s, a 190 millimeter beacon in the lantern room and the 300 millimeter lens was put on loan. There was a time during the 1970s that the Coast Guard wanted to replace the entire lighthouse, but public outcry discouraged this from happening. The City of Sanibel took over operation of the lighthouse property from the Coast Guard, but did not take ownership of the actual lighthouse. In 2000, the property was again transferred, this time to the Bureau of Land Management. In 2010, the Bureau passed official ownership of the lighthouse to the City of Sanibel Island. Renovations are planned to make the structure safer and open it to visitors.