The History of Lighthouse Lamps in Pensacola

A beautiful landscape isn’t complete without well-designed lighting. The Wallace Company is the leading service provider for Pensacola landscape lighting. We can design and install the perfect system for your property, allowing you to enjoy your landscaping long after the sun goes down. We can even improve the security of your home by installing custom-designed lighting systems.

A recent Facebook post sparked controversy in Pensacola after someone suggested the colorful lights on the new Gen. Daniel “Chappie” James Jr. Bridge are in honor of Pride Month, a controversial suggestion that many people found offensive. But the lights on the bridge are actually part of a larger installation project designed to enhance the appearance of the bridge and add a sense of security for those who use it.

The first lighthouse was the Aurora Borealis, a lightship that was transferred to Pensacola in 1823 from its previous station at the mouth of the Mississippi River. The lighthouse sat on a 40-foot (12 m) bluff at the entrance to Pensacola Bay, behind Santa Rosa Island. The light was partially obscured by trees nearby and could not be seen from ships beyond the bay entrance. A tower was built in 1825, and the light was placed on top of it.

A keeper and his family lived in the house at the base of the tower. During World War II, the keeper’s house was used to accommodate Coast Guard personnel, who performed beach surveillance and maintained the lighthouse. A keeper was assigned to the tower every three months.

In 1853 the Commandant of the Pensacola Navy Yard wrote to the Collector of the Port of Pensacola about improvements at the lighthouse. He reported that the light was too low and was being obscured by tall pines at the bay entrance. He recommended that the tower be raised and that a new light machinery be installed.

This was the first of several recommendations for improving the Pensacola lighthouse that were not carried out. Eventually Congress established the Lighthouse Board, with the Secretary of the Treasury as ex officio president and Commodore Shubrick as chairman. A civilian district inspector was also responsible for each lighthouse, and an officer from the Corps of Engineers handled construction and repair.