Key West Lighthouse & Keeper's Quarters

History of the Lighthouse & Keeper’s Quarters

The current lighthouse opened in 1848 with a woman as its keeper; nearly unheard of during the 19th century. In the years following, the Key West Lighthouse underwent a number of upgrades including the installation of a Third Order Fresnel Lens, an extension to the tower which allowed the light to be seen from a greater distance, an upgrade to the Keeper’s Quarters, and finally the electrification of the light.  In 1969, the U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned the Key West Lighthouse since there was no longer a need for a full-time keeper due to technological advancements.

Today, this sentinel of the sea stands as a museum dedicated to Key West’s maritime heritage and to the men and women who bravely kept the light burning through the threats of war and weather.  We welcome visitors to walk up the 88 steps to the top of the light as well as explore the belongings, photographs, and words of the lighthouse keepers and their families who lived a now obsolete, yet never forgotten, way of life.