Crooked River Lighthouse

Nestled in a North Florida forest habitat, the lighthouse beams nightly, with an acrylic replica of its original 4th order Fresnel lens.  The Crooked River Lighthouse Keeper’s House replica, which was patterned after the original 1895 plans, and was completed in 2009.  Inside, both the history and the science of the lighthouse are being interpreted via fascinating exhibits and an educational movie, along with a gift shop. The highlight of the Keeper’s House is the exhibit featuring the Crooked River Lighthouse’s original, historic bi-valve Fresnel lens which was returned in 2020. Other exhibits include as well a historical setting of the early 1900’s, examples of beacons and the methods of constructing a skeletal tower lighthouse.  Everyday life objects in the Keeper’s Room include its original clocks, a barometer, a glass fire grenade, pages from the keeper’s watch book, currency and much more.  Visitors can look through replica Sears’ catalogs for a perspective on cost of living during the past century.  Group educational tours are welcomed and new science-based programs are being developed. Effective Sunday, May 28, 2023,  Museum & Gift Shop Hours: 11 am – 5 pm Wednesday – Monday (closed Tuesday). Also open additional hours for the Country Market (1st, 3rd, & 5th Saturday 9 am – 1 pm) as well as monthly Full Moon events and other special events (see website for schedule). Climbs are available for a fee  $5 for adults (age 13+), $3 for youth (6-12 yrs), free for children (5 & under). Must be 44 inches or taller to climb. Climb hours: 11 am – 4 pm Wednesday – Monday (closed Tuesday).

The Crooked River Lighthouse was built in 1895 to replace one on Dog Island that was destroyed in a hurricane in 1873. Authorities decided it would be better to have a lighthouse on the secure mainland rather than the exposed Dog Island.  Electricity came to the lighthouse in 1933 and it became automated in 1952. The lens was built in 1894 by Henri LaPaute in Paris, France. The lens was removed in 1976 and was for many years located in the U.S. Coast Guard 8th District Offices in New Orleans. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1995. The lighthouse sat forlorn and isolated for a few years.  In 1999 a group of local residents formed the Carrabelle Lighthouse Association (CLA) and the City of Carrabelle obtained ownership of the landmark just weeks before being auctioned and created a public park surrounding it.  Private and public financial support enabled the restoration of the structure to be completed in December 2007. The original lens was returned to Crooked River Lighthouse in 2020 and a new exhibit which features it opened in 2022.