Lighting the Way: Florida Straits Lighthouses to be Discussed in Key West Art & Historical Society Distinguished Speaker Series

Who doesn’t love a lighthouse?  They are beacons of hope and a symbol of security and safety, offering a glimpse to the past when they were a necessary navigational aid to mariners. On Thursday, November 3rd, from 6:00pm-7:00pm, Key West Art & Historical Society welcomes the public for an evening presentation on Florida Straits Lighthouses by historian Eric Martin in the Helmerich Learning Center at the Custom House Museum as part of their Distinguished Speaker Series.

With more than 1,350 miles of coastline, Florida lists 7th in the nation for the number of lighthouses still standing today. The Florida Straights boast nearly a quarter of these 30 structures.  Built by the government as navigational aids more than 150 years ago, these lighthouses tower up to 157 feet above the water and comprise some of the largest collection of iron and screw pile lighthouses in the world, many of them still active.

Martin, Florida Lighthouse Association president, will present the lighting of the Florida Straits, including mention of Cape Florida, Key West, Sand Key the Dry Tortugas and Garden Key at Ft. Jefferson, while giving a detailed account of the lighthouses at Carysfort Reef, Sand Key, Sombrero Key, Alligator Reef, Fowey Rocks and American Shoal.

The Distinguished Speaker Series are part of a twice-monthly program that highlights the abundant history and cultural assets of our islands through informal lectures, sponsored by The Helmerich Trust, Key West Marriott Beachside Hotel and the Marion Stevens Fund. Tickets are available online:  $5 for members, $10 for nonmembers.  For more information, contact Adele Williams, Programs & Education Director at 305.295.6616 x 115 or visit KWAHS.ORG.  Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.

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