Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, Florida

A lighthouse to mark a dangerous shoal off "Point" Jupiter was proposed as early as 1851. Congress acted quickly and $35,000 was appropriated in 1853. Work on the lighthouse was hampered by the periodic closure of Jupiter Inlet. With the inlet closed, building supplies were brought in through the Indian River Inlet (which is now closed) nearly 35 miles north of the lighthouse site. The supplies were ferried down the shallow river in small boats.

Mosquitoes, sandflies, sickness and the threat of Indian attacks stopped work on the lighthouse several times. Finally, the lighthouse was completed and first lit on July 10, 1860. Built at a cost of $60,859.50, the 115 foot tall brick tower contained a fixed white light varied by a brighter white flash every 90 seconds. The light was produced by a state-of-the-art first order Fresnel lens made by the Henry Lepante Company of Paris.

Archeologists have discovered the Jupiter lighthouse, which was thought to be located on a natural hill, is actually located on an ancient indian mound. Archeologists dug several 3'X3' holes around the base of the lighthouse and have found shells and pottery fragments. Preliminary estimates have put the origin of the hill to around 700 AD.