Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum [FL]
The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum presents the history of Florida. Particular emphasis is given to the area between the Loxahatchee River and the Jupiter Inlet. In the mid 19th-century, the railroad reached no further south than Jacksonville, Florida. As a result, sea travel was the easiest mode of transportation along the southern Florida coastal region. To reduce the significant number of shipwrecks in the area, Congress authorized the creation of the lighthouse in 1853. The lighthouse was first operated in 1860. During the Civil War, Confederate troops shut down the light, and took command of the grounds. The museum is housed within a World War II barrack, which presents exhibits of local historical interest.
The site offers climbing lighthouse tours, exhibits, lectures, and a summer camp. Reservations are required for all visits. Visitors must be at least four feet tall to climb the lighthouse, and no flip-flops or spike heels are permitted.