Ponce Inlet Lighthouse

06/01/2026

Hello June!☀️ Save the date for the following events this month...

☀️ Tuesday at the Tower: Stephen Crane, The Commodore and the Open Boat // June 9th at 11 AM

☀️Summer Children’s Library Program at Edgewater Public Library // June 11th at 3 PM

☀️ Flag Day at the Lighthouse // June 13th 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM

☀️ Summer Children’s Library Program at Port Orange Library // June 17th at 3 PM

☀️ Outreach: The Cincinnati Reds & The Pacetti Hotel at Port Orange Library // June 18th at 2 PM

☀️ Summer Children’s Library Program at DeBary Public Library // June 23rd at 3 PM

☀️ Walk & Talk Tour: Living at the Lighthouse // June 25th at 11 AM

☀️Summer Children’s Library Program at NSB Regional Library // June 30th at 2 PM

View our full calendar of events at https://www.ponceinlet.org/events/

05/29/2026

We’ll leave the light on for you this weekend 💡 We've officially switched to our summer hours! The lighthouse & museum are now open from 10 AM to 9 PM daily with last admission sold at 8 PM.

Come discover what makes the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse a top destination in Central Florida!

Plan your summertime visit at https://www.ponceinlet.org/plan-your-visit/
📸 🎥:

05/27/2026

05/25/2026

Join us this Memorial Day at Ponce Inlet Lighthouse to honor our nation’s heroes! 🇺🇸

🌊🏖️ As we kick off our summer hours, we dedicate this day to the brave individuals who have served our country. Visit us from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM (last admission at 8:00 PM) to commemorate their sacrifices and celebrate their courage. Discover our rich history, enjoy stunning views, and create lasting memories while preserving their legacy.

For more information, visit www.ponceinlet.org.
📸 Photo by John K. Brash

05/23/2026

What's the tallest lighthouse you've ever climbed?

💡 Fun fact: Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is Florida's tallest lighthouse and the 3rd tallest light in the US!

📸 Jeff Talbert Photography

05/23/2026

Spend Memorial Day Weekend with Us! 🇺🇸 The Lighthouse & Museum are Open Daily 10-6 (last admission sold at 5). Visit ponceinlet.org for more info!

05/20/2026

DID YOU KNOW?: In 1897, during Keeper O’Hagan’s tenure, author Stephen Crane was shipwrecked off shore. Crane was aboard the Commodore, a gun-running steam tug that was carrying munitions and supplies to aid Cubans who were rebelling against Spanish rule of their island.

The Commodore sank about 13 miles off the Florida coast. The only thing visible to the survivors was the lighthouse beacon at Mosquito Inlet. Stephen Crane was traveling as an undercover correspondent for the New York Post which published his account of the sinking. This newspaper report formed the basis of Crane’s famous short story, “The Open Boat.”

Be sure to pick up a copy during your next visit to our gift shop & if you’re in town don’t miss tomorrow’s Walk & Talk Tour titled “Treacherous Waters” all about the inlet that shipwrecked many! 🌊 Visit the events page at Ponceinlet.org for more information.
lighthousehistory floridalighthouse volusiacounty

05/19/2026

📸 : The Ponce Inlet Light Station Oil Storage Building Now & Then

During the time that plans were being made for the new light station at Mosquito Inlet, kerosene was still a relatively new fuel. The stability of this product was not totally understood, especially as to how kerosene fumes would behave in the hot Florida climate.

The oil storage building for the new lighthouse was located outside the station’s picket fence and far enough away from the tower and dwellings to prevent disaster if the kerosene were to somehow ignite. The building was one of the largest oil houses ever built by the Light-House Establishment and a special ventilation system was included to keep the structure safe. The actual construction did not begin until January of 1887 and the building was completed in July.

Discover more of the story behind the lighthouse and it's surrounding museum buildings by joining us for a guided tour tomorrrow, Wednesday May 20th, at 11 AM. Tour is included with regular admission!

Learn more about the Oil Storage Building by visiting https://www.ponceinlet.org/tour-explore/explore-the-museum/explore-the-ponce-inlet-light-station/oil-storage-building/.

05/18/2026

From dangerous shoals and shipwrecks to the challenges early mariners faced along Florida’s unforgiving coast, the inlet that our lighthouse oversees has quite the history. 🌊

This Thursday, join us for "Treacherous Waters", a guided Walk & Talk tour exploring the dramatic maritime history of the Ponce Inlet area. This tour brings to life the stories of those who navigated, and sometimes fell victim to, these perilous waters.

Perfect for history lovers, lighthouse enthusiasts, and curious explorers alike, this engaging outdoor program offers a deeper understanding of why skilled keepers, vigilant mariners, and reliable aids to navigation were essential to survival.

Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Included with regular admission.
Learn more here: https://www.ponceinlet.org/event/walk-talk-tour-treacherous-waters/

05/15/2026

Your shining light this weekend 💡🌊 Photo by Glen Wattman

Come climb FL’s tallest lighthouse & explore our museum buildings from 10 to 6! Visit Ponceinlet.org for more information.