The Key West Lighthouse

Since my story yesterday took place in Key West, we might as well hang around there awhile. I find lighthouses interesting, especially when they are in the South where it’s warm! 

I’ve visited the Key West Lighthouse a couple of times, but only once to climb it. I have a pronounced fear of heights so it was with more than slight hesitation that I started up the 88 steps to the top. I don’t know how many times the spiral stairs took me around and around, but I was glad to stop the turning. Almost to the top, I met a group of four coming down. I’m not a small guy and neither was the man heading down. We both held our breath and squeezed past each other.

At the top I was rewarded with a view of nearly the entire island. Key West is only 4 miles long and 2 miles wide at its widest point. As I walked around the deck at the top photographing the city, I recognized many well-known places.   I had a great view of Ernest Hemingway’s house. I read that Mr. Hemingway used to complain about the lighthouse keeper having a perfect view into his bedroom window.

The lighthouse was constructed in 1847 and was 46 feet high. In 1894 an extension was added to make it 86 feet high. It is the 15^th oldest lighthouse in America. There are interesting stories about the lighthouse, including the fact that the keeper for 32 years was a woman. The lighthouse keeper’s residence has been converted into a museum/gift shop with many photographs, artifacts and a movie about the way things used to be. 

Key West was at one time the richest city in Florida and the richest per capita in the U.S. due to a number of salvagers living there. Shipwrecks were frequent because of the natural reef surrounding the island. The construction of several lighthouses ruined the salvager’s business. 

When you visit Key West, be sure to go to the top! Don’t forget to ask for your free “I climbed the Key West Lighthouse” sticker.