St. Marks Lighthouse
The light has guided boats
and ships into the port of St.
Marks since 1832. It has
survived war and hurricanes.
The light has guided boats
and ships into the port of St.
Marks since 1832. It has
survived war and hurricanes.
A Lighthouse in a Refuge
The St. Marks Lighthouse
stands in the beautiful St.
Marks National Wildlife
Refuge.
The St. Marks Lighthouse
stands in the beautiful St.
Marks National Wildlife
Refuge.
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - St. Marks Lighthouse, Florida
St. Marks Lighthouse - St. Marks, Florida
| St. Marks Lighthouse The lighthouse is the scene of a remarkable annual butterfly migration. |
Guardian of the Florida Coast
One of the most photographed landmarks on
Florida's "Big Bend" coast, the St. Marks
Lighthouse has overlooked the waters of
Apalachee Bay since 1832.
The mouth of the St. Marks River was one of
the most dangerous ports in Florida during
the early 19th century. Shallow water and
shoals caused numerous shipwrecks and
the U.S. government authorized the
construction of the lighthouse to assist ships
in navigating the dangerous coast.
The lower St. Marks provided water access to
the port communities of St. Marks and Port
Leon. The latter was a prosperous town until
it was destroyed by hurricane during the
1840s, shortly after the construction of the St.
Marks Lighthouse. The site is now located
deep in the marshes of the St. Marks
National Wildlife Refuge.
By the time of the Civil War, St. Marks was a
small but active port that served Florida's
capital city of Tallahassee. One of the
nation's first railroads connected the two
towns, carrying passengers and commerce
back and forth from Tallahassee to the coast.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Confederate
forces darkened the light so it would not
assist the Union blockade ships operating
offshore. The tower, however, took on new
life as the centerpiece of a Southern military
base.
An artillery battery named Fort Williams was
constructed on the shore near the lighthouse
and Confederate soldiers used the tower as
an observation platform to watch for
threatening activity by the Union ships
offshore.
It was soon decided, however, that Fort
Williams was too exposed. The guns were
moved up the river to a new battery built on
the site of the old Spanish fort of San Marcos
de Apalache. Sentries were maintained at
the lighthouse site, however, although the
Union navy destroyed the abandoned fort and
did some damage to the tower.
During the spring of 1865, the St. Marks
Lighthouse played a critical role in the last
significant Southern victory of the Civil War,
the Battle of Natural Bridge.
Union troops began coming ashore here on
the night of March 3, 1865, fighting with
Confederate forces for control of the nearby
East River Bridge. Two days later they
marched inland from the lighthouse on a
campaign they hoped would lead them to
Tallahassee and eventually on to
Thomasville, Georgia.
The expedition ended in disaster on March
Florida's "Big Bend" coast, the St. Marks
Lighthouse has overlooked the waters of
Apalachee Bay since 1832.
The mouth of the St. Marks River was one of
the most dangerous ports in Florida during
the early 19th century. Shallow water and
shoals caused numerous shipwrecks and
the U.S. government authorized the
construction of the lighthouse to assist ships
in navigating the dangerous coast.
The lower St. Marks provided water access to
the port communities of St. Marks and Port
Leon. The latter was a prosperous town until
it was destroyed by hurricane during the
1840s, shortly after the construction of the St.
Marks Lighthouse. The site is now located
deep in the marshes of the St. Marks
National Wildlife Refuge.
By the time of the Civil War, St. Marks was a
small but active port that served Florida's
capital city of Tallahassee. One of the
nation's first railroads connected the two
towns, carrying passengers and commerce
back and forth from Tallahassee to the coast.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Confederate
forces darkened the light so it would not
assist the Union blockade ships operating
offshore. The tower, however, took on new
life as the centerpiece of a Southern military
base.
An artillery battery named Fort Williams was
constructed on the shore near the lighthouse
and Confederate soldiers used the tower as
an observation platform to watch for
threatening activity by the Union ships
offshore.
It was soon decided, however, that Fort
Williams was too exposed. The guns were
moved up the river to a new battery built on
the site of the old Spanish fort of San Marcos
de Apalache. Sentries were maintained at
the lighthouse site, however, although the
Union navy destroyed the abandoned fort and
did some damage to the tower.
During the spring of 1865, the St. Marks
Lighthouse played a critical role in the last
significant Southern victory of the Civil War,
the Battle of Natural Bridge.
Union troops began coming ashore here on
the night of March 3, 1865, fighting with
Confederate forces for control of the nearby
East River Bridge. Two days later they
marched inland from the lighthouse on a
campaign they hoped would lead them to
Tallahassee and eventually on to
Thomasville, Georgia.
The expedition ended in disaster on March
| Copyright 2010 by Dale Cox All rights reserved. |
6th when Confederate forces handed the
Federals a severe defeat at the Battle of
Natural Bridge.
By the afternoon of March 7, 1865, the Union
force was back at the lighthouse where small
boats were used to convey the soldiers back
to the ships in the bay.
The lighthouse was returned to service after
the war and continues to serve as a
navigational landmark to this day.
The tower is now a popular with visitors to
the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and is
one of the most photographed spots on the
coast of Florida's "Big Bend" region.
Although the tower itself is not open to the
public, the grounds are a popular spot for
sightseeing and picnics. There is an
observation platform, historic marker and
trails leading along the coast of Apalachee
Bay. The view is spectacular.
The lighthouse area is focal point for the
amazing annual monarch butterfly migration.
Tens of thousands of butterflies gather here
each October to begin their long flight across
the Gulf of Mexico.
The St. Marks Lighthouse is located at the
end of Lighthouse Road in the main area of
the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. It is
located off U.S. Highway 98 east of St. Marks.
Federals a severe defeat at the Battle of
Natural Bridge.
By the afternoon of March 7, 1865, the Union
force was back at the lighthouse where small
boats were used to convey the soldiers back
to the ships in the bay.
The lighthouse was returned to service after
the war and continues to serve as a
navigational landmark to this day.
The tower is now a popular with visitors to
the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and is
one of the most photographed spots on the
coast of Florida's "Big Bend" region.
Although the tower itself is not open to the
public, the grounds are a popular spot for
sightseeing and picnics. There is an
observation platform, historic marker and
trails leading along the coast of Apalachee
Bay. The view is spectacular.
The lighthouse area is focal point for the
amazing annual monarch butterfly migration.
Tens of thousands of butterflies gather here
each October to begin their long flight across
the Gulf of Mexico.
The St. Marks Lighthouse is located at the
end of Lighthouse Road in the main area of
the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. It is
located off U.S. Highway 98 east of St. Marks.
lor.
Civil War Landmark
The lighthouse was the site of
a Confederate fort and later
was the focal point of a Union
invasion of Florida.
The lighthouse was the site of
a Confederate fort and later
was the focal point of a Union
invasion of Florida.
Keeper's Cottage
The beautiful old keeper's
cottage at the St. Marks
Lighthouse is of post Civil
War construction.
The beautiful old keeper's
cottage at the St. Marks
Lighthouse is of post Civil
War construction.
View of Apalachee Bay
The lighthouse grounds offer
spectacular views of the
marshes and Apalachee Bay.
The lighthouse grounds offer
spectacular views of the
marshes and Apalachee Bay.
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