St. Marks Lighthouse, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Florida
In response to initial steps taken in 1827 and 1828 requesting action on behalf of Congress, federal funds were appropriated for a lighthouse at St. Marks. The structure, which was begun in 1829 and completed in 1831 was erected by Winslow Lewis, the official "lighthouse builder" for the federal government. It is reported that the limestone blocks used for the construction of the lighthouse were taken from the nearby ruins of the old Fort of San Marcos de Apalache, or from a limestone quarry located near the site of that fort but across the Wakulla River.
Like many other lighthouses constructed during that period, the St. Marks lighthouse was built too close to the sea. During the winter of 1841-42 it was, therefore, relocated a short distance inland in order to avoid further. damage by the sea. In doing this the lighthouse was taken down and rebuilt, again by, Winslow Lewis. Further modifications were made in 1860.
In November 1843, a contract was made with David Carey to construct a small keeper's dwelling at the lighthouse. Frances Gibbens was contracted to build the seawall the next year. A breakwater was constructed in 1853 as well as the more substantial keeper's house.
During the Civil War, the St. Marks Lighthouse played a role in military affairs primarily because of its strategic position on the coast. From the spring of 1862 to early in 1864, coastal raids comprised the great bulk of hostile action by federal troops against the Confederacy in Florida. Thus a raid at St. Marks in June, 1862 was typical of the military activities of the period. At that time, the woodwork on the lighthouse and the keeper's house adjoining was burned. In response to the danger of raids of this nature Confederate Army pickets were positioned in or near the lighthouse on a fairly regular basis, and skirmishes with Federal troops occurred from time to time. In March, 1865, one of the largest raiding efforts launched against the interior of West Florida began with a landing of one thousand Federal troops at the St. Marks Lighthouse on March 4. This was a prelude to the Battle of Natural Bridge near Tallahassee on March 6, 1865.
After the Civil War, the lighthouse continued to serve the coastal area as a manned light until the nationwide transfer of all lighthouses to the supervision of the Coast Guard in 1939 The light is presently an automatic light, and the building itself is closed to the public. The lighthouse now occupies a 65.60 acre site within the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge (the lighthouse property is still under the auspices of the U.S. Coast Guard) and as such is part of a tourist attraction of some importance to the West Florida area.
Building Description
The St. Marks Lighthouse is composed of a tower and an attached residence for lightkeepers. The structure is constructed of limestone and brick coated with cement and painted white. The tower itself is conical in shape extending to a height of eighty feet. It widens slightly at the top to accommodate a small polygonal superstructure housing the light and a catwalk on a round platform. At intervals on the side of the tower are small, shuttered windows spaced to coincide with a circular staircase within.
The most notable features of the rectangular keepers' residence are the slanting facades of the long sides. On the seaward side are seven windows, irregularly spaced which are cut high in the walls and are shuttered and barred. On the other side of the keeper's house is a high porch extending nearly its entire length. In the middle of this porch is another projection, a little wooden room, dividing it into two sections. In each of these sections is a door and a wooden stairway. The pitched roof supported by wooden posts extends over the porch. The gable end of the house opposite the tower has one central window, barred and shuttered. The wall extends above the roof line in a parapet that rises to a sharp point in the center and is stepped on each end. These stepped projections are repeated at the opposite end of the house where it connects to the tower. The light itself is now an automatic oscillating white 2000 CP light which stands at 82 feet above the water and is visible for 15 miles.
