Cape St. George Light

The Cape St. George Light is located on St. George Island, part of the scenic Forgotten Coast in Florida’s Panhandle. From U.S. Highway 98 in Eastpoint, turn south onto State Road 300, which leads across a 4.2-mile bridge to St. George Island and the Cape St. George Light. Parking is available in lots on either side of Lighthouse Park.

The Cape St. George Light is the fourth reconstruction of the historic lighthouse originally built in 1833 on the western tip of St. George Island to guide ships into Apalachicola Bay. Following storm damage to the lighthouse, a second lighthouse was built in 1848 at Cape St. George using materials from the original structure.

A hurricane destroyed the second lighthouse in 1851, and a third lighthouse was completed in 1852 farther inland and built on deep pine pilings for stability. The third lighthouse featured a third-order Fresnel lens, one of the most advanced lighting systems of its time for the transmission of light over long distances.

For more than 150 years, lighthouse keepers maintained the beacon by carrying fuel up the spiral staircase, trimming wicks, and polishing the lens. During the Civil War, the light was extinguished to prevent aiding Union ships. In 1949, the Coast Guard automated the lighthouse and removed the Fresnel lens.

Beginning in the 1990s, beach erosion and powerful hurricanes again threatened the lighthouse. Hurricane Andrew damaged the surrounding shoreline in 1992, and the Coast Guard deactivated the light in 1994 due to safety concerns. In 1995, Hurricane Opal’s storm surge shifted the lighthouse from its foundation, damaged the keeper’s house and oil house, and caused the tower to lean more than seven degrees. Around 1995, Apalachicola Times editor John Lee began the “Save The Light” campaign; a local group formed The Cape St. George Lighthouse Society, and the group raised money and received funding to stabilize the historic structure. However, continued erosion left the lighthouse surrounded by Gulf waters. On October 21, 2005, after years of storm damage and erosion, the third historic lighthouse collapsed into the Gulf.

Following the collapse of the third beacon, the community rallied to preserve the lighthouse. The St. George Lighthouse Association was established and led the effort to salvage and rebuild the structure with support from volunteers, private contractors, grants, and local donations.

More than 22,000 original bricks were cleaned and reused in the reconstruction, along with original granite door jambs and window lintels. The lantern room was recreated using surviving pieces as patterns, and the original 1852 plans were obtained from the National Archives.

Reconstruction began in 2007, and the fourth Cape St. George Light was completed and reopened to the public in December 2008. Today, the lighthouse stands as a symbol of the community’s dedication to preserving its maritime heritage.

A replica of the original Lighthouse Keeper’s House was completed in 2011 beside the lighthouse. The building now serves as a museum featuring exhibits on the history of the Cape St. George Light and the lives of its keepers that maintained the beacon.

A gift shop, located inside the Keeper’s House, offers a variety of unique souvenirs and locally inspired items celebrating St. George Island and its lighthouse history. Visitors can browse handcrafted jewelry, books, children’s games, apparel, caps, and lighthouse-themed keepsakes.

Hours vary by season. Please visit the website for hours of operation, specials events, and updates.