CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – It’s a building that can be spotted for miles, but is considered a hidden gem at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The history of the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse is similar to the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The original lighthouse was constructed off the coast of Cape Canaveral in 1848 to warn ships of dangerous shoals, or sand banks. Cape Canaveral Lighthouse Foundation President Ronald Ecker said there was a problem with it though.
“It was too short at about 65 feet. The light only went out six to eight miles, but the shoals were about 13 nautical miles out, causing shipwrecks, so they blew it up and created a new one,” said Ecker.
A new tower was built in 1868 made of cast iron and painted with black and white stripes. Museum director Becky Zingarelli said there was still an issue.
“They thought erosion was going to destroy the lighthouse, so they disassembled it and moved it inland,” said Zingarelli.
Piece-by-piece, like a puzzle, the lighthouse was rebuilt between 1893 and 1894 further inland standing at 151 feet tall. (In the words of Goldilocks and the Three Bears story, it was ‘just right.’) And it still stands today as a working lighthouse.
“Back in the 1920s this was a thriving community. After the second world war, this became a military base,” said Ecker.
It’s now Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Taking a look inside the lighthouse, there’s a kitchen and pantry, along with a dining room where a cardboard cutout of Mills Olcott Burnham sits. He was the head lighthouse keeper from 1853 to 1886.
While the lighthouse was built as a home with bedrooms, no one actually lived inside, according to Ecker. The lighthouse keepers had homes nearby and didn’t have to live at the lighthouse.
If you take a close look at the doors, you’ll see the names of former lighthouse keepers etched in the glass.
If you’re wondering, there’s ten floors and 176 steps to the top... and no air conditioning.
The higher up, the more narrow the rooms become. Visitors aren’t typically allowed to climb to the top, but News 6 got exclusive access and it was a breathtaking view of the cape.
“This is my favorite part of the lighthouse. Getting to the top and normally it’s a nice breeze and beautiful sight,” said Ecker.
This lighthouse is owned by the U.S. Space Force and managed by the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse Foundation with more than 200 volunteers. For Zingarelli, the historic site is special.
“I’ve always loved lighthouses. My husband and I were in the Navy and were married at a lighthouse. It’s always been in my heart to be in historic site management,” said Zingarelli.
Zingarelli wants to continue sharing this piece of history with others.
“It was because of the 826 acres here that they decided to put the Cape Canaveral launch complex here so we think this is something that’s very important for people to understand, not only is it to navigation history that the lighthouse contributed to, but also the space program as well,” said Zingarelli.
This lighthouse is located on Cape Canaveral Space Force Base, but there are ways that the public can visit and get a tour of the lighthouse and other space museums located on base through Canaveral Tours with a security clearance prior to the tour. Prices range from $35 to $62.50 with tours ranging from two to four hours including multiple stops at launch and missile museums on the base. Click HERE to book a tour.