The Reservation
During the second Seminole Indian War, Maj. General Jesup using the guise of a truce surrounded and then deported 500 Seminoles at Fort Jupiter. Shortly afterwards the army built a crude Stockade where today's Pennet point looks out toward Jupiter Inlet, two and half miles downstream. Fifteen years later the army declared the area a reservation, the site for the future lighthouse.
The Need for a Lighthouse
As American trade expanded in the 1860's more and more US ships headed down the Florida coast to open new markets. This led to more shipwrecks and loss of men and cargo off the dangerous reefs near Jupiter Inlet. A chain of lighthouses were planned for the Florida coast to combat this problem, Jupiter being the first to be built as the reefs here are so close to the gulf stream.
The Soldier
During the second Seminole Indian War, Maj. General Jesup using the guise of a truce surrounded and then deported 500 Seminoles at Fort Jupiter. Shortly afterwards the army built a crude Stockade where today's Pennet point looks out toward Jupiter Inlet, two and half miles downstream. Fifteen years later the army declared the area a reservation, the site for the future lighthouse.
The Architect
Before he was the hero of Gettysburg in the Civil War, Lt. George Mead drew up the plans for the Jupiter Lighthouse.
Building he lighthouse was no picnic. Access via the sea was blocked off by a sandbar so the building materials had to dragged inland. Malaria and Indian raids took their toll, momentarily stopping work on the lighthouse.
The New Lighthouse
After the army supplied a bodyguard the lighthouse was finaly finished and lit in 1860. Just in time for the civil war. The light prooved a boone to the union navy. The lighthouse keeper, altough a Southerner felt that he should keep the light lit so that all ships could be protected. The assistant lighthouse keeper did not agree, forced the keeper off the lighthouse and disabled the light.
Isolated Jupiter
During the early years, there were no roads to the lighthouse, it being surrounded by malaria infested swamps. All supplies arrived by sea. These were hauled up a wooden slope using Oxen and plenty of elbow grease. Supplies were intermittent as Jupiter Inlet access was blocked by sandbars and frequent storms. The nearest civilization was 120 miles, at Titusville.
