Lois and I went to the 2001 Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival. On our way out, we passed a sign indicating the way to the Sturgeon Point Lighthouse. What a timely opportunity! We pulled in to the parking area, paid a visit to a restored schoolhouse and walked along the drive to the lighthouse. The view as the trees parted impressed me.
Here is the view from the beach, looking back. The light is still operational, maintained by the Coast Guard so the tower is locked to the public, the house is open and fitted out as a museum and a gift shop is in the small building behind.
- Sturgeon Point Light
- Built: 1869
- Tower height: 70 ft
- Lens: 3 1/2 order Fresnel (an 1887 replacement of the 4th order lens)
- Light automated: 1936
On my fourth trip (at least) to the Pensacola Naval Air Museum, I finally got around to taking some pictures of the Pensacola lighthouse, a spectacularly tall one.
Here's a view featuring Don and Edythe.
I couldn't get close enough to hug this lighthouse and had to settle with letting Edythe get a shot of me moping around in front of it.
- Pensacola Lighthouse
- Built: 1857-58
- First lit: January 1, 1859
- Designer: Captain John Newton, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Height of focal plane (light beam) above sea level - 191 feet
- Height of focal plane above ground - 150 feet
- Optic: 1st order Fresnel lens
- Light Source: electric bulb
- Range: 27 miles
- Current owner and operator - U. S. Coast Guard
