Built in 1838, the Amelia Island Lighthouse is the oldest existing and operational lighthouse in the state of Florida.
“When the lantern first sent its beam out to sea, Florida was not yet a state. Through the years, the old sailing ships gave way to modern freighters and fishing boats. The beacon kept shining and still guides seafarers into the channel toward the Fernandina Harbor,” says the City of Fernandina Beach website, which acquired the lighthouse from the U.S. Coast Guard in 2001.
The lighthouse is available for touring, but only during specific days and scheduled quite a bit in advance. I, unfortunately, didn’t get a tour but it was still a fun place to visit. Visiting without a tour group is free and welcome.
Residing only 60 feet above sea level, this lighthouse sits on the highest point of the island but is actually quite obscured by tree growth. It’s also in a random neighborhood now, so getting to it was interesting. Amelia Island is about 45 minutes to 1 hour north of Jacksonville, Florida, so a nice stop if you’re traveling through the area and have a day to stop. This was my first time visiting Amelia Island but apparently it’s a popular tourist spot for out-of-state people.
Overall, I thought that this was a fun place to photograph! I’m not sure if it’d be a particularly exciting place to visit for the whole family, unless everyone is a history lover, but it only took me an hour or so – and that was me taking my time.
This is my first of three blog posts on my experience visiting Amelia Island! Read part two here, and check back soon for part three!
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Thank you for reading! Have you ever been to Amelia Island? Let me know in the comments below and like this post if you want more like it!
Xoxo’s
Emmalee
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Emmalee Mauldin 