EARLY LIGHTHOUSE HISTORY
The Jupiter Lighthouse not only serves to warn approaching ships of the treacherous reefs so closely located to the shipping lanes in the Gulf Stream, but it is said that the light's beam also served the early mariners northbound from the tropics as a landfall from which they could catch the northern flowing current to aid them in making good time to northern ports.
THE TURN OF THE CENTURY
In 1895 great changes took place in sight of the lighthouse. The railroad came through. The Fort Jupiter reservation was opened to home owners and the dredging of the inland waterway began. The age of the steamship began to pass away and even before the century had turned the Celestial railroad was dismantled and sold.
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LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS ACCOMODATION
During part of it's life the lighthouse has had the company of a lighhouse keepers cottage and an assistant keepers cottage. Both of these structures are now long gone. However they left behind an interesting history
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THE LIFE SAVING STATION
In 1885 the loneliness of the surroundings of the lighthouse was broken with the arrival of a Lifesaving Station. The two story station was built one mile south of the inlet. Charles Carlin, who had once been the assistant lighthouse keeper at Jupiter returned to become its captain. He and his wife Mary built a house nearby, becoming amongst the first of many settlers.
THE KEEPERS
In 1885 the loneliness of the surroundings of the lighthouse was broken with the arrival of a Lifesaving Station. The two story station was built one mile south of the inlet. Charles Carlin, who had once been the assistant lighthouse keeper at Jupiter returned to become its captain. He and his wife Mary built a house nearby, becoming amongst the first of many settlers.
THE LIGHTHOUSE TODAY
The lighthouse lens is a Fresnel lens, in this case the First Order Fresnel lens. There are only thirteen of these early First Order lens still in use in the United States. The light flashed for 1.2 seconds, eclipses for 6.6 seconds, flashes again, eclipses 21 seconds and then repeats the cycle. It can be seen for a distance of eighteen miles. It has one million candlepower.
