Cape San Blas Lighthouse Grand Opening
For the first time in a lifetime for the young residents of Gulf County, the Cape San Blas lighthouse was opened to the public on September 20, 2008. For many years we have traveled to the lighthouse wishing we could climb to the top and enjoy the view as they did when the first lighthouse on Cape San Blas was erected in 1849. The lighthouse that stands on Cape San Blas today is actually the third to be erected; due to hurricanes and fire that was set by the Confederates.
As we waited at the bottom of the tower to climb the 96 steps to the top, we listened to a gentleman as he spoke about his experiences of running up and down those steps each morning and evening to drop the curtains over the lens. He and his wife had traveled back to Cape San Blas for the open house to see how much had changed since he last saw the lighthouse in 1953 as a Coast Guard lad stationed in Cape San Blas. To his surprise the only change was the move of the two Keeper's dwellings nearer to the lighthouse.
The climb was a bit scary as the steps narrowed toward the top of the lighthouse, but it was worth the wait as much as it was the butterflies while climbing to the top. The view was one that you would have never imagined. The St. Joseph Historical Society did a wonderful job assisting in the restoration of the Cape San Blas Lighthouse and Keeper's dwellings. The public can now visit the lighthouse museum Wednesday-Friday from 11am to 5pm and Saturday's from 10am to 4pm.
If you are not able to make the 96 steps to the top or are just afraid of heights; this virtual tour of Cape San Blas Lighthouse is the next best thing to experiencing it for yourself. You have a bird's eye view of the Gulf of Mexico as well as the third-order Fresnel lens on the inside of the lighthouse.
