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Showing posts from April, 2019

Sanibel Island Lighthouse Story

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Sanibel and Captiva islands are two sister islands just off of Florida’s west coast. The two islands are connected by a bridge. They are located between Fort Myers and Naples and are just a little closer to Fort Myers. Because of the location, it was an obvious choice for a place to build a lighthouse. Building a light house on Sanibel Island was first suggested in 1856 but no action was taken by the Lighthouse Board. After the Civil War, a lighthouse was again requested and the decision was discussed. Even way back then it the Congress of the United States a long time to take action. Finally, in 1883, $50,000 (fifty-thousand dollars) was finally granted and construction of the lighthouse was begun in 1884 on Sanibel Island. The lighthouse was being built on the Eastern most tip of Sanibel Island but the superstructure was fabricated in the north. The components were shipped by boat. In addition to the lighthouse itself, there were also two square keeper’s homes built on...

History of the Florida Everglades

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The Florida Everglades are not to be confused with a city in Florida also named Everglades. The Florida Everglades is an area of subtropical marsh lands. The Florida Everglades are in portions of five counties in Florida. The five counties are; Monroe, Collier, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Broward counties. Exploration of the Everglades has been hindered by the very nature of the Everglades. There is dense (extremely dense) undergrowth or saw grass and sedge. The first known European to enter the Everglades was Escalante de Fontenada. He was a Spanish captive of a Native American Indian Chief. Then between 1841 and1856 some United States Military Forces entered the Everglades in an attempt to capture, kill or drive out the Seminoles who had taken refuge in the Everglades. The attempts were mostly unsuccessful. During the later part of the nineteenth century there were several expeditions to and explorations of the Florida Everglades. The expeditions were led by Major Archie P. ...

Ponce Inlet Lighthouse in Daytona Beach

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You just must not miss seeing the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse while you are on vacation in Daytona Beach. Of course, you want to spend plenty of time catching rays out on the white sandy beaches and you certainly should not miss any of the motor racing attractions that are available. Those two things are synonymous with Daytona Beach which bills itself as ‘The World’s Most Beautiful Beach’ and ‘The Birthplace of Speed’. There are so many things to do, so many places to go and so many things to see when you are vacationing in Daytona Beach but you really should make time to go see what has been called the most beautiful lighthouse in the world. It is worth your time as well as the energy you will expend climbing to the top of the 175 foot structure. Ponce Inlet Lighthouse was first named Mosquito Inlet Lighthouse when it was constructed. The United States purchased ten acres of land in 1883 upon which to construct the lighthouse. The lighthouse was designed by Francis Hopkinso...