Aerial view looking west at the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse near New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Title

• Aerial view looking west at the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse near New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Image Number

• COM07664

Year

• Not after 1996

Series Title

• General: Department of Commerce collection.
• Specific: Department of Commerce collection Series/Collection number: S 1047, Publicity photographs, 1940-1996 ; Box 3, FF30

General Note

• The 175-foot lighthouse at Ponce de Leon Inlet, tallest in Florida and third-tallest in the nation, was the inspiration for Stephen Crane's famous short story, The Open Boat. Originally named Mosquito Inlet Light Station, the lighthouse was first constructed in 1835. In December 1835, Seminole warriors attacked the lighthouse, smashed the glass lantern and burned its wooden stairs. The ongoing Second Seminole War (1835-1842) prevented repairs to the structure, which collapsed the following year. A new tower was completed in 1887, despite being rocked by the 1886 Great Charleston Earthquake. In 1933, an electric rotating third-order Fresnel lens was installed. Decommissioned in 1970, the optic was restored to service and relighted in 1982 with an aero-marine beacon. It now serves as a museum and a working private aid to navigation. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1998.

Physical Description

• 1 slide - col.

Subject Term

• Aerial views--Florida--New Smyrna Beach
• Publicity
• Historic buildings--Florida--New Smyrna Beach--Aerial photographs
• Marine service--Florida--New Smyrna Beach
• Aids to navigation--Florida--New Smyrna Beach--Aerial photographs
• Aerial photographs
• Lighthouses--Florida--New Smyrna Beach--Aerial photographs

Geographic Term

• New Smyrna Beach (Fla.)--Buildings, structures, etc.
• Volusia County (Fla.)--Aerial photographs.
• Volusia County (Fla.)--Buildings, structures, etc.
• New Smyrna Beach (Fla.)--Aerial photographs.

Subject Corporate

• Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse (Fla.)

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