Celebrate Florida Heritage at the Cedar Keys Light Station on Seahorse Key - Saturday, July 15
The historic lighthouse on Seahorse Key opens its doors to the public Saturday July 15, from 8:30 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. You're invited to join the Refuge Manager and Ranger for a day of Florida heritage. The lighthouse and Seahorse Key are normally closed to the public in order to protect the bird rookery and allow study by the university students. This will be the last summer opening of the lighthouse; the fall Openhouse will remain every year, on the third weekend of October.
Visitors will enjoy touring the lighthouse, viewing the refuge island and the Gulf from the lighthouse tower. A boat is needed to reach this offshore island; visitors may use their own boat or contact commercial boat rentals and group tours that leave from Cedar Key City Marina.
The lighthouse was originally built in 1854 to assist with navigation into the busy port of Cedar Key. Later, it was used as a detention center for captives during the Second Seminole War, then as a prison during the Civil War. The light was decommissioned in 1915. Seahorse Key and the lighthouse, became part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge in the 1930`s. Beginning in 1952, the lighthouse was leased to the University of Florida as a marine laboratory for use in research and education, and still serves that purpose today.
Bring your camera and step onto one of Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge premier holdings. Shots from the tower in the morning are spectacular: railroad vine covers the beach and wading birds seem to pose for the camera. You don't want to miss this opportunity. | 
