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Florida's historic Mayport Lighthouse, which is also known as the St. Johns River Lighthouse, is scheduled to be open to the public next year.
The lighthouse, however, was opened up for a special preview last month and visitors were allowed to climb to the top of the tower. U.S. Rep. Tillie Fowler of Florida and Mayport City Council President, Eric Smith, were among those scaling the granite stairs to acknowledge the historic 138 year old structure.
Public and private groups have worked together to get the lighthouse open as a tourist attraction. Friends of the Buccaneer Trail, the Tourist Development Council and the Mayport Naval Air Station are working with the newly formed Mayport Lighthouse Association to help the Association obtain a lease on the structure.
One problem is that the safety rails inside the 81 foot high circular stairway need to be fixed. Long range plans for the Navy property include a museum, memorial and interpretative center, designed as the Lighthouse Keepers House would have appeared in the mid 1850's.
This story appeared in the August 1997 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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