Captain John's Custom Photos & Framing

Florida Lighthouses - Gasparilla Island Rear Range Light, Gasparilla Island, FL


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Color Photograph
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To protect maritime traffic along the Florida gulf coast, the U. S. government established many lighthouses in the late 1800's. In order to assist cattle ships going from the port of Charlotte to Cuba, a lighthouse was constructed on the southernmost tip of Gasparilla Island in 1890. Originally called the Old Port Boca Grande Lighthouse, it stood guard over the deep-water Boca Grande Pass and Charlotte Harbor. Later, it helped guide phosphate ships to and from the nearby railroad docks that were built in 1909.

In 1968, the Coast Guard decommissioned the old light in favor of the Gasparilla Island Rear Range Light, a 58-foot tall steel skeleton tower further inland. This structure continues in operation today as an automatic beacon.

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