Today we visited the tallest lighthouse in Florida located in Ponce Inlet.
The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse Museum includes several original residences used by the families of the principal, first assistant and second assistant lighthouse keepers.
This building, while not built until 1992, is based on plans drawn in 1883 for a multiple family residence at the lighthouse. The plan was scrapped to give the families more privacy by building separate houses instead. This building serves as the museum's entrance and gift shop.
Doug pauses before starting the 175 foot climb up 203 steps.
Is this where we are going or where we have been? Or both?
The panoramic view at the top of the lighthouse includes Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, the Halifax River and the Atlantic Ocean.
This is the First Assistant Keeper's Dwelling where he lived with his family. Built in 1887, it is furnished the way it would have been in 1900.
The Lens Exhibit Building was built in 1995 to house the museum's collection of skillfully restored Fresnel lenses and other lighthouse artifacts.
This Cuban refugee boat washed up on the beach in Volusia County in 1989. The orange life preserver tied to the mast indicates that the occupants were rescued by the Coast Guard while at sea.
Watch this video for a quick 360 degree view from the top of the lighthouse.
Looking out over the crowd at a Volusia County Beach from the boardwalk late afternoon on Memorial Day.
For more pictures, click here .
To be continued...