Restoration HardwareHave you ever wondered how people a hundred years from now will know how we lived? Preserving historical structures, such as the Cape Florida Lighthouse, is one way to connect the past with the present.In 1996, the Lighthouse was restored to its 1855 appearance. Several of the 1855 components and the 1960s-era steel replica of the lantern room were removed from the Lighthouse and placed on display here. They were replaced with cast iron reproductions built according to the original plans. Captions:In 1854, Lt. George G. Meade of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was asked to design an extension to the Lighthouse. The extension of nearly 30 feet was completed in 1855. The touchable drawing at right shows where each of the large pieces you see before you would have fit in the Lighthouse. A Internal Lighthouse StairsThese are just five of the original 110 stairs that led from the base of the tower to the watch room. B Stairs to the Lantern RoomClimbing these steep stairs, the keeper made his way from the tower into the lantern room. C Lower Lip of Roof ConeNotice how much more substantial this piece is than the replica lantern rooms. D Lantern Room (Replica) This steel replica was installed in the late 1960s, when the



new park renovated the Lighthouse for the first time in almost 100 years. E Bracket BeamsBracket beans help support the heavy iron lantern and watch rooms that sit atop the brick tower. F Spider ColumnThis large piece of cast iron helped support the stairs, lantern and watch rooms. G CupolaThe highest feature of the Lighthouse provides a decorative finish. It allowed exhaust to escape through the vents from the lantern.

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Road to Restoration
Dade Heritage Trust's Cape Florida Lighthouse Brick Program
Cause for Conservation
The Archaeology of Key Biscayne
The Bahama Dinghy
U.S. Coast Survey Base
Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage
Let It Shine
Escaping to Freedom in the Bahamas
Key Biscayne, The Barrier Island

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