Name and Location

Saint Marks Lighthouse (also known simply as St. Marks Light) is a historic coastal beacon located at the mouth of the St. Marks River on Apalachee Bay in northern Florida. The address is 3443 Lighthouse Road (County Road 59), Crawfordville, Wakulla County, Florida 32327, United States. The coordinates are Latitude: 30.073831 N and Longitude: 84.1796402 W.

Construction and History

Saint Marks Lighthouse was constructed in 1830 and first lit in January 1831. It is one of the oldest surviving lighthouses in Florida and has been listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places (NRHP #72000356) since 1972. The light was extinguished during the Civil War and relit in 1868 after repairs. Automation converted it to automatic operation in the mid-20th century, with the last resident keeper departing around 1960.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse is a conical masonry tower with a gallery and lantern, constructed using brick and cast iron materials. The height of the tower is 29 meters above ground level. The light characteristic is not publicly posted but is guided by U.S. Coast Guard publications. The range and focal height are not documented here.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse remains an active aid to navigation under the oversight of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, charted on NOAA nautical charts (NOAA Chart 11485).

Accessibility and Visiting

The grounds surrounding the lighthouse are open daily during refuge hours (sunrise to sunset) with no entrance fee. The tower is not open for interior tours but can be viewed externally. Trails, picnic areas, and wildlife observation platforms are available. Nearby attractions include the St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail, Bald Point State Park, and Wakulla Springs.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse overlooks a mosaic of salt marshes and tidal flats favored by shorebirds, wading birds, and migratory waterfowl. Visitors may spot herons, egrets, and roseate spoonbills in warmer months.

Technical and Operational Details

Managing authority: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge; Operator contact: Phone +1 850 925 6121, Email stmarkslighthouse@fws.gov, Website http://stmarkslighthouse.net/.

Further Information

For further reading and references, see the National Register of Historic Places nomination form (ref 72000356), St. Marks Lighthouse Association website, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge website, NOAA Chart 11485 (Apalachee Bay), and Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Marks_Light.