Cape San Blas Florida
Harbour Lights #363

There have been a total of four lighthouses that have marked the southern part of Florida’s Cape San Blas. Cape San Blas is part of a Peninsula extending westward from the Florida mainland separating St Joseph Bay to the north from the Gulf of Mexico to the south.

An appropriation of $8,000 made in 1847 allowed the first San Blas Light to be completed in 1849. A gale in 1851, caused the first light to fall.

On August 12, 1852 , Congress appropriated $12,000 for rebuilding the light, when a severe storm on August 30, 1856 caused the new structure to be totally destroyed only months after it was completed.

On March 3,1857 the United States Congress appropriated $20,000 for a third brick Light, complete with a Third Order Lens and lit on May 1, 1858.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, the Confederate Lighthouse Superintendent had the lens removed before the Union Army could claim it. During the war, the Keeper’s dwelling and the wooden parts of the tower were destroyed by fire. On July 23, 1856 the light was repaired and a new lens was installed returning the light to operation.

By 1869, the beach in front of the lighthouse was eroding and would need protection. It was not until 1877, that a $5,000 request was made to build a jetty. Congress only granted the Lighthouse Board $2,000 , which was deemed insufficient and no action was taken. In 1881, the Lighthouse Board noted: "The sea has been encroaching on this tower until its base is in the water.“

In 1883, funds for a fourth tower were made and by 1885, a fourth 96’ skeletal steel tower was placed 1500’ from the shoreline with only 144’ of sand separating the tower from the breaking water. To secure this tower, Congress appropriated $20,000 for a move to Black’s Island a few miles away. However, funds ran out before the move could be made

Before the work on the aborted move was restarted, the Lighthouse Board changed its mind and decided that the tower should be moved further north on the cape. Before any action was taken, the beach started to encroach the tower and a decision was made to leave the tower in place.

In 1916, a hurricane stripped away the beach protecting the light and in 1918 the light was moved further inland about a quarter mile from the shore.

In 1952, a Loran radio station was installed near the Cape San Blas Lighthouse. In 1981, the Loran station was deactivated and the United States Coast Guard automated the light.

The United States Air Force was granted a five year permit to use and maintain the lighthouse property. When the original agreement was extended for an additional 25 years there was some confusion on the care of the Keeper’s dwellings and the dwellings were excluded from the agreement.

The dwellings started to deteriorate and in 1996, the light was deactivated. The Keeper’s dwelling nearest the shore suffered considerable damage from Hurricane Earl. In 1999, the Air Force assuming responsibility for the dwellings moved both to a position next to the tower. The dwelling in the best condition was restored first with the second waiting until 2005 to be restored.