Congressman Bean Successful in Restoring Amelia Island Lighthouse
WASHINGTON—Today,U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) proudly announced completion of the work to rehabilitate the historic Amelia Island Lighthouse which had been nonfunctional for 18 months due to mechanical failures.
As a member of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, Congressman Bean pushed U.S. Coast Guard senior leadership to prioritize the necessary repairs and was instrumental in securing help from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, District 7, Flotilla 14-1 to fully restore the beacon to its former glory.
“Standing at 67 feet tall, the Amelia Island Lighthouse is a vital piece of Fernandina Beach’s maritime history, bolstering our tourism industry, and serving as a guiding light for our commercial and recreational fisherman. I was pleased to work with Bradley Bean, the Mayor of Fernandina Beach, and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary to make the repairs to this beacon possible, ensuring the public will continue to enjoy this piece of our storied history for many years to come,” said Congressman Bean.
“We are grateful that the Amelia Island Lighthouse has been illuminated once again. The lighthouse, built in 1838, is the oldest operating lighthouse in the state of Florida and is a fixture within our community. The City of Fernandina Beach was recently awarded a $500k grant for the phased restoration of our lighthouse. Thank you to Congressman Bean for helping prioritize this project for our community,” said Interim City Manager for the City of Fernandina Beach Jeremiah Glisson.
BACKGROUND
Built in 1838, the Amelia Island Lighthouse sits on a hill overlooking Egans Creek, marking the entrance to the inlet that leads to the St. Marys River, Cumberland Island Sound and the harbor of Fernandina Beach. As Florida’s oldest operational lighthouse, it’s light can still be seen 16-miles out to sea.
In 2001, the U.S. Coast Guard transferred ownership of the lighthouse tower and grounds to the City of Fernandina Beach. However, the U.S. Coast Guard still retains ownership and has the responsibility of maintaining the light.
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