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| I am at the top! |
Some of you may have already guessed where I visited this past Saturday, but for those of you who have not yet figured it out, I visited the Crooked River Lighthouse in Carrabelle. Not only did I visit the museum but I actually had the opportunity to climb the lighthouse. It was a beautiful view from the top, approximately 100 feet up! I had to climb 138 steps to get there. I could see both Dog Island and St. George Island from the top of the Lighthouse. It was amazing and there was a wonderful breeze up there!
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| The Crooked River Lighthouse |
The Crooked River Lighthouse was constructed in 1895, but the architect and builder are unknown. It consists of a cast iron skeletal tower with a cement foundation. Originally the light apparatus was a Fresnel lens. It was used in the Crooked River Lighthouse from 1895 to 1976. The original Fresnel lens is displayed in the USCG District 8 headquarters in New Orleans, but there is the possibility that it will be returned to the lighthouse to be put on display in the museum, which is located in the replica Keeper's House. The modern light apparatus is a 190mm rotating beacon, which was used from 1977 to 1995. In 1995 the Lighhouse was decommisioned and in 1999 local citizens formed the Carrabelle Lighthouse Association to rescue this historic landmark. In 2007 it was restored and re-lighted and opened to the public.
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| The current light apparatus, a 190mm rotating beacon. |
The Crooked River Lighhouse guided mariners through the pass between Dog Island and St. George Island from 1895 to 1995. The Dog Island lighthouses were destroyed by hurricanes, so the plans were put in place to construct the Crooked River Lighthouse on the mainland. The site originally included two identical keepers houses, constructed on each side of the lighthouse. In 1933 electricity came to the Lighthouse and it was automated in 1952. This ended the need for keepers. In 1964 the Coast Guard sold both Keeper's Houses, and the buyers moved them from the site. One was burned to the ground, the other is privately owned. A replica of the Keeper's houses was built in 2009, and this is now the location of the Crooked River Lighthouse Museum and Gift Shop. The house also serves as the meeting place and office of the the Carrabelle Lighthouse Association.
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| The replica Keeper's House |
There are wonderful amenities located at this beautiful historic site as well, including an awesome playground constructed to look like a pirate ship named "The Carrabella". The replica Keeper's House now serves as the museum which includes some of the original items from the site. Every Saturday from 1pm to 4pm they open the lighthouse for the public to climb. It is a unique opportunity and very few lighthouses allow the public inside to climb to the top. The cost for climbing is $5 for adults and $3 for children (they also have group rates. I really enjoyed my climb to the top of this piece of local history. It was a very memorable experience! I think I just might have to do it again! The Crooked River Lighthouse is located less than 2 miles west of the Carrabelle bridge at 1975 Highway 98 West. I strongly recommend that if you ever are in the area that you go check it out!
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