On a recent four-day, three-night vacation—specifically to attend the wedding of one of my dearest friends—our briefest visit of the many destinations we explored was the Pensacola Lighthouse, and one of the most exciting for me.
After a full day—until closing at 5:00 p.m.—we'd been at the neighboring National Naval Aviation Museum. We'd passed Pensacola Lighthouse on the way to the Museum (both are located on NAS Pensacola), and I'd expressed an interest in seeing it, not realizing that we would close the Aviation Museum, only a half hour before the Lighthouse would close.
We arrived at Pensacola Lighthouse & Museum at 5:15 p.m., with only time to explore the lighthouse tower before they closed at 5:30 p.m. I was determined to reach the top, even with only 15 minutes to climb to the top, and descend!
I didn't catch their names, but the two staff members who were working in the gift shop that afternoon—and in the process of wrapping up for the day—were wonderfully patient, pleasant and polite. With only 15 minutes to explore, they answered a few questions I had, sold me a $6 ticket (what a bargain for such an awesome experience!) and I was on my way!
I'd been told in the gift shop, where I purchased my ticket, that the lighthouse is the equivalent of a 17-story building.
Challenge accepted!
It wasn't until I was on the 70th-something step that I realized they were numbered, which I assumed was part of the ongoing restoration project. Seeing various states of renovation, I marveled at the engineering it takes to build, let alone restore, a structure that would last as long as this one has. After the 100th step I took a break of a few seconds and kept on climbing, stopping only to catch a quick glimpse out of the few windows, while ascending.
It wasn't until I reached the top of the lighthouse that I was told—there's a guide regularly stationed at the top of the lighthouse, volunteers I believe—that there's a total of 177 steps in the lighthouse tower. I made it! It wouldn't be until much later that I'd learn the fascinating history of this amazing lighthouse.
I walked around the deck at the top of the lighthouse at least three times.
The views from the top include the National Naval Aviation Museum (which we'd just visited minutes before), Santa Rosa Island (where we'd been to the wedding the night before, on Navarre Beach), and Fort Pickens (where we would be exploring the following day), to name only a few.
If I was out of breath from the climb, I didn't notice. I was wholly mesmerized by the 360 degrees of stunning Florida Gulf beauty. You might remember that I was born on the Florida Gulf, in St. Petersburg. So I've long had a love affair with Florida beaches and a fascination with lighthouses.
After seeing so many lighthouse documentaries on television and seeing replicas in museums, getting to peek inside an operating lighthouse lens room was exhilarating! I made this particular photograph (all in this post are mine) black and white, to better show the spectacular contrast of the lens room lenses.
A quick bit of history...
The first Pensacola Lighthouse was proposed in the early 1820's and Congress appropriated funds for that lighthouse in 1823. The light from the new tower was displayed on December 20, 1824, atop a 40-foot lighthouse, the first lighthouse on the Florida Gulf Coast! That same year, Congress passed a Senate bill authorizing the "establishment of a Navy Yard at or near Pensacola".
Construction on today's Pensacola Lighthouse, located approximately half a mile west of the original, was completed in 1859 and stands at 151 feet tall, 191 feet above sea level. Ten years later, in 1869, the tower's daymark—distinctive shape and/or color of a lighthouse as seen during the day—was changed from all-white to the lower third being white—to contrast the trees, and the top two-thirds were painted black—to contrast cloudy skies.
One lighthouse resident that all visitors are sure to see is "Jeremiah, Pelican Lighthouse Keeper", one of the dozens in the "Pelicans in Paradise" 2004-2005 project to raise funds for the Pensacola News Journal's "Newspapers in Education" literacy program.
My best friend Barry and I were on vacation together, but he opted for a walk on the beach while I was climbing, a climb he'd made before. I walked down after my lighthouse experience to enjoy the views and white sand on the adjacent beach.
Remember, the Pensacola Lighthouse and the nearby National Naval Aviation Museum are on an active Naval Air Station, so do your research on where to enter the base and what credentials you'll need to gain access.
I didn't get to visit the Museum or the grounds on this particular visit, but I will return to Pensacola Lighthouse with ample time to visit everything is has to offer! Whether you have only a few minutes or a whole day, I encourage you to visit this historic and fascinating landmark. I wouldn't trade those 15 minutes for anything and can hardly wait to return!
Please visit the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook page for more photos from this visit!
After a full day—until closing at 5:00 p.m.—we'd been at the neighboring National Naval Aviation Museum. We'd passed Pensacola Lighthouse on the way to the Museum (both are located on NAS Pensacola), and I'd expressed an interest in seeing it, not realizing that we would close the Aviation Museum, only a half hour before the Lighthouse would close.
We arrived at Pensacola Lighthouse & Museum at 5:15 p.m., with only time to explore the lighthouse tower before they closed at 5:30 p.m. I was determined to reach the top, even with only 15 minutes to climb to the top, and descend!
 |
| Pensacola Lighthouse | Pensacola, Florida |
I didn't catch their names, but the two staff members who were working in the gift shop that afternoon—and in the process of wrapping up for the day—were wonderfully patient, pleasant and polite. With only 15 minutes to explore, they answered a few questions I had, sold me a $6 ticket (what a bargain for such an awesome experience!) and I was on my way!
 |
| Pensacola Lighthouse | Pensacola, Florida |
I'd been told in the gift shop, where I purchased my ticket, that the lighthouse is the equivalent of a 17-story building.
Challenge accepted!
It wasn't until I was on the 70th-something step that I realized they were numbered, which I assumed was part of the ongoing restoration project. Seeing various states of renovation, I marveled at the engineering it takes to build, let alone restore, a structure that would last as long as this one has. After the 100th step I took a break of a few seconds and kept on climbing, stopping only to catch a quick glimpse out of the few windows, while ascending.
It wasn't until I reached the top of the lighthouse that I was told—there's a guide regularly stationed at the top of the lighthouse, volunteers I believe—that there's a total of 177 steps in the lighthouse tower. I made it! It wouldn't be until much later that I'd learn the fascinating history of this amazing lighthouse.
 |
| Pensacola Lighthouse | Pensacola, Florida |
I walked around the deck at the top of the lighthouse at least three times.
The views from the top include the National Naval Aviation Museum (which we'd just visited minutes before), Santa Rosa Island (where we'd been to the wedding the night before, on Navarre Beach), and Fort Pickens (where we would be exploring the following day), to name only a few.
If I was out of breath from the climb, I didn't notice. I was wholly mesmerized by the 360 degrees of stunning Florida Gulf beauty. You might remember that I was born on the Florida Gulf, in St. Petersburg. So I've long had a love affair with Florida beaches and a fascination with lighthouses.
 |
| Pensacola Lighthouse | Pensacola, Florida |
After seeing so many lighthouse documentaries on television and seeing replicas in museums, getting to peek inside an operating lighthouse lens room was exhilarating! I made this particular photograph (all in this post are mine) black and white, to better show the spectacular contrast of the lens room lenses.
A quick bit of history...
The first Pensacola Lighthouse was proposed in the early 1820's and Congress appropriated funds for that lighthouse in 1823. The light from the new tower was displayed on December 20, 1824, atop a 40-foot lighthouse, the first lighthouse on the Florida Gulf Coast! That same year, Congress passed a Senate bill authorizing the "establishment of a Navy Yard at or near Pensacola".
Construction on today's Pensacola Lighthouse, located approximately half a mile west of the original, was completed in 1859 and stands at 151 feet tall, 191 feet above sea level. Ten years later, in 1869, the tower's daymark—distinctive shape and/or color of a lighthouse as seen during the day—was changed from all-white to the lower third being white—to contrast the trees, and the top two-thirds were painted black—to contrast cloudy skies.
 |
| Pensacola Lighthouse | Pensacola, Florida |
One lighthouse resident that all visitors are sure to see is "Jeremiah, Pelican Lighthouse Keeper", one of the dozens in the "Pelicans in Paradise" 2004-2005 project to raise funds for the Pensacola News Journal's "Newspapers in Education" literacy program.
My best friend Barry and I were on vacation together, but he opted for a walk on the beach while I was climbing, a climb he'd made before. I walked down after my lighthouse experience to enjoy the views and white sand on the adjacent beach.
Remember, the Pensacola Lighthouse and the nearby National Naval Aviation Museum are on an active Naval Air Station, so do your research on where to enter the base and what credentials you'll need to gain access.
I didn't get to visit the Museum or the grounds on this particular visit, but I will return to Pensacola Lighthouse with ample time to visit everything is has to offer! Whether you have only a few minutes or a whole day, I encourage you to visit this historic and fascinating landmark. I wouldn't trade those 15 minutes for anything and can hardly wait to return!
Please visit the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook page for more photos from this visit!
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