Lighthouses first guided ships back to safe harbor. In addition to that responsibility, only one lighthouse can say it also guided spaceships to the heavens.
"It is a beacon of hope,” said Florida lighthouse enthusiast Ron Ecker.
Origins of the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse date back to 1860. The tower was completed in 1868 after fabrication halted for the Civil War.
Ron with the Florida Lighthouse Association shares the 151-foot-tall lighthouse moved in 1894 after seawater threatened the structure.
"We need to preserve this history,” Ecker believes. “These are wonderful structures."
Follow the steps outside along the metal exterior to the third level entry and find brick walls lining the interior, along with ventilation portholes in the floor.
"Everything is sectionalized,” he shared of how the lighthouse came together with iron panels being bolted together.
Unlike many of Florida's lighthouses, with keeper cottages near the base of the tower, the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse features bedrooms and the kitchen contained inside the structure. Meantime, the interior staircase leading to the top is contained in the middle, not secured around the edges like the Ponce Inlet or St. Augustine lighthouses.
However, climbing inside the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse for yourself will be pretty difficult.
Since the lighthouse sits inside a high security area at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, access is limited.
"This is a secure base. They still launch rockets here,” Ecker explained. Both Falcon 9 and Atlas V rockets lift off from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, south of the Kennedy Space Center.
During our visit, more than 600 folks climbed the center staircase during an annual winter visitation day. Lobsterfest, presented by the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse Foundation, is a fundraiser with the goal of recreating three 1940s era cottages that used to sit at the base of the lighthouse.
"One on each side, which would be the keeper's cottage and one in the back,” Ecker said while waving his arms.
The foundation is hopeful that one day they can create a dynamic visitor center and be open to the public several days a week.
Until then, the "Warden of the Sea," as she is called will remain a launch pad to the stars.
Note: Access to the lighthouse is no longer available, following security concerns and budget sequestration. However, tours can be scheduled through The 45th Space Wing. Get details in the sidebar located to the right of this story.
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