December 24, 2021

PONCE INLET LIGHTHOUSE & MUSEUM

4931 S Peninsula Dr, Ponce Inlet, FL 32127

“The Ponce de Leon Inlet Light is a lighthouse and museum located at Ponce de León Inlet in Central Florida. At 175 feet in height, it is the tallest lighthouse in the state and one of the tallest in the United States. It is located between St. Augustine Light and Cape Canaveral Light.” Wikipedia

This lighthouse is at the southern end of Daytona Beach. I came to visit the lighthouse even though I wasn’t really in a touring mood, however, by the end of my visit I was glad I stopped by. As the grounds were closing early since it was Christmas Eve I was told to climb the lighthouse first. I was a little apprehensive about climbing the 203 steps up to the observation deck, but the climb didn’t render me unable to breath like I thought it would. The views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Halifax River were great.

Along with the lighthouse there were six or seven different building used when the lighthouse had to be manned. All are well-preserved and contain a lot of information and memorabilia associated with running the lighthouse. In my opinion the Lens Exhibit Building with its collection of lighthouse lenses and other navigational aids was pretty cool. There was also an exhibit of Cuban Rafts that have carried refugees to the area that was interesting.

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The Ponce Inlet Veteran's Memorial with the lighthouse in the background.

The Ponce Inlet Veteran's Memorial with the lighthouse in the background.

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Looking up from the ground floor.

Looking up from the ground floor.

This was not a welcome sign to read about a third of the way up the stairs.

This was not a welcome sign to read about a third of the way up the stairs.

Looking down from near the top of the stairway.

Looking down from near the top of the stairway.

The Atlantic Ocean from the observation deck.

The Atlantic Ocean from the observation deck.

The Atlantic Ocean from the observation deck.

The Atlantic Ocean from the observation deck.

The Halifax River from the observation deck.

The Halifax River from the observation deck.

A display of time pieces used at the lighthouse.

A display of time pieces used at the lighthouse.

A display about auto racing on the beach.

A display about auto racing on the beach.

The First Keepers House.

The First Keepers House.

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16th Century Anchor. It is possibly from Jean Ribault's fleet which was scattered in a hurricane with loss of many ships between Cape CAnaveral and Matanzas Inlet in 1565.

16th Century Anchor. It is possibly from Jean Ribault's fleet which was scattered in a hurricane with loss of many ships between Cape CAnaveral and Matanzas Inlet in 1565.

A giant Fresnel Lamp.

A giant Fresnel Lamp.

Part of the lens display

Part of the lens display

Two bald eagles happened to fly by, too bad I didn't have my big telephoto lens on my camera.

Two bald eagles happened to fly by, too bad I didn't have my big telephoto lens on my camera.

This raft washed ashore in Volusia County in 1989. Clothing found onboard suggests that chidren were among those on the raft. The orange ilfe vest was left behind by the Coast Guard to indicate that these refugees wee recued at sea.

This raft washed ashore in Volusia County in 1989. Clothing found onboard suggests that chidren were among those on the raft. The orange ilfe vest was left behind by the Coast Guard to indicate that these refugees wee recued at sea.