Key West lighthouse is a major tourist attraction in Key West, Florida. The first lighthouse was a 65 feet tower constructed in 1825. Originally, the Key West lighthouse had 15 lamps with 15” reflectors. Michael Mabrity, the first keeper of the lighthouse died in 1832. His wife, Barbara, became its keeper and served as the Key West lighthouse keeper for the next 32 years. The huge hurricane of 1846 resulted in the destruction of the lighthouse and fourteen persons, including seven people of the family of Barbara Mabrity, who took refuge in the tower of the lighthouse also died. However, Barbara survived the storm.

Another lighthouse in the island, Sand Key Lighthouse, eight km away from this lighthouse also got destroyed due to the same hurricane. Its keeper, Rebecca Flaherty, widow of its previous keeper died along with another five people during the destruction of that lighthouse. The Key West city authorities got a fresh lighthouse constructed in 1849. The height of the new lighthouse was 66’ and it had 13 lamps with 21” reflectors and the entire construction was done at 15’ above sea level.

In 1873, the authorities replaced the damaged lantern due to another hurricane in 1866. Barbara served as the keeper of the new lighthouse also until she was terminated at the age of 82, when she made certain statements that authorities found inappropriate. In 1894, due to the growth of taller buildings and trees above the lighthouse that obscured the light emanating from the lighthouse, the city authorities increased the height of the lighthouse by another 20’ and it stood around 100’ above sea level.

In 1969, the Coast Guard decommissioned the Key West lighthouse, since the latest technological advancements made the Key West lighthouse and a permanent keeper for it as redundant. The Coast Guard leased it to Key West Arts and Historical Society. The society is operating the lighthouse and buildings associated with it as Key West Light House and Keeper’s Quarters Museum. The museum currently displays a first order Fresnel lens of Sombrero Key lighthouse to give an idea to visitors about the third order Fresnel lens installed in the lighthouse in 1858. You would need to climb 88 steps to reach the top of the lighthouse and explore the photographs, belongings, and writings of the brave keepers of the lighthouse and their families.