Late March, 2025. The historic St. Marks Lighthouse, first constructed in 1830, is located roughly seven miles from the Visitors Center for the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. It's reached via slow-moving Lighthouse Road, on which people in cars or bicycles search for sightings of wildlife, including migratory birds, monarch butterflies, alligators, and more. While the lighthouse was closed to the public when we visited, it was still an interesting area to visit and to photograph. There are a few walking paths near the small parking lot, and visitors occasionally glimpse loggerhead sea turtles, West Indian manatees, and alligators offshore from the lighthouse. The ownership of the historic property was transferred in 2013 from the U.S. Coast Guard to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge "has completed a renovation to repair damages of time, termites, age, and weather. A replica 4th order Fresnel lens has been installed." read more

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Not open to the public right now because of COVID but you can still see it and walk around and enjoy. I was here in daytime so the light wasn't running but it was awesomely cool to see and experience. Construction started in 1829 and then it was moved inland in 1842 because of beach erosion. The adjoining building is not original, having been rebuilt a bunch of times for various reasons. The lighthouse played a part in the Civil War when it was destroyed in 1862. Rebuilt, it was again attacked by a Union landing party in July 1863 where they burned the steps and the interior woodwork. And again, in 1865, Union troops landed for a major raid that was planned to take the capital city, though they were repulsed at the Battle of Natural Bridge. The lighthouse was restored to service after the war and resumed the role of navigational aid. There are plenty of pathways nearby where you can get a bit further away from the lighthouse for great pictures. Enjoy! [Review 14068 overall, 1390 of 2020, number 1130 in Florida.] read more

St. Mark's Lighthouse - St. Mark's Lighthouse, Tallahassee - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Crawfordville, Florida

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They call this the lost coast or the nature coast. It's a gorgeous long drive all the way back to the lighthouse with lots of places to stop and explore in between. We even saw an alligator cross the road. We were on the hunt to see the flamingos displaced by the hurricane. We didn't get to see them, but we saw lots of gorgeous other birds. We also enjoyed watching folks launch their boats. Moreover what I love about visiting parks and places like this are the stories my in-laws tell me. Like the time my father in law walked out in the marsh to see if it where the water eventually dropped off. Pack a picnic, bring binoculars and your camera. Enjoy the wilds of Florida. read more

We visited the lighthouse in mid-March during spring break. It was still closed to the public. The location was due to open the following month. Parking at the lighthouse is fairly limited as there is a hiking trail entry point nearby. The surrounding scenery is lovely including a marsh, beach and hiking trails. We drove through the rest of the park. Would love to return again when we are better prepared to hike and explore the area. read more

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It's a great place to visit, and there is so much to see around the lighthouse. I didn't go into lighthouse because it was closed at the time but there was like what felt like a mini tropical island just around the corner. It had a small section that looked like the beach so to me it felt like beach and park in one! We also saw little crabs there, and there's many trails. We saw lily pads, alligators, lotus flowers, otters, dragonflies, butterflies, so much. This is a great place to spend the day! read more

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Who doesn't love a lighthouse? The St Marks Lighthouse is spectacular. It appears to be well maintained with a ground level viewing deck nearby for that perfect photo. It is situated directly on the Gulf of Mexico surrounded by the St Marks Refuge. It is one of the larger Florida lighthouses in my opinion and it is a historical landmark. There are a few bench seats, one overlooking the Gulf. I was unable to enter the structure and I am not sure if tours are ever given. If you love lighthouses, this one should be on your list! read more

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The natural landscape here is absolutely gorgeous! Northern Florida's marshlands are as picture perfect as you could ever dream. However, the lighthouse has been closed off to the public due to serious need of repair making it unsafe for public viewing. You wouldn't know that from its exterior, which seems sound & beautiful. There is a lookout tower nearby that allows an elevated opportunity to see the surrounding marshlands as well as a better view of the lighthouse. On the opposite end of the parking area is a trail that leads out to the lighthouse levee (beware of alligators). Another trail just behind the lighthouse takes you through the marshes. Here you will find the burrows of thousands of tiny sand crabs. Don't worry, they run inside their protective shelters the moment you get too close. St. Mark's Lighthouse is location inside the boundaries of one of the oldest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System and encompasses over 70,000 acres. There are many classes available at the Welcome Center throughout the year and many activities including miles of trails for hiking, volunteer-narrated nature walks, regulated hunting, fishing, camping and stunning landscapes as far as the eye can see. Many migratory animals make their way through the refuge including the Monarch Butterfly. Hundreds of thousands of these insects flood the lands surrounding the lighthouse in October on their way to Mexico. What a sight that must be! ---------- LIGHTHOUSE HISTORY In the 1820's, the town of St. Marks, Florida, was considered an important port of entry. The lighthouse began construction in 1829 and was completed at a cost of $11,765. However, the final construction quality was not acceptable to the Collector of Customs and another builder was brought in to bring construction standards to contract specifications. The whale oil light was lit for the first time in 1831. The lighthouse was moved in 1842 and managed to survive the hurricane of 1843 which destroyed the port and severely damaged the nearby town. It also survived its surrounding area being shelled by Union ships in the Civil War, only needing minor repairs. In 1883 the tower was heightened to its current 82 foot stance. The lighthouse was automated in 1960 and is still in use today. [Source: US Fish & Wildlife Service] Refuge Facts: http://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/pub_facts.pdf --------- FINAL THOUGHT St. Marks Lighthouse is the second oldest lighthouse in Florida and the oldest lighthouse on the Gulf Coast. There is a $5 per car entrance fee to get into the refuge. Be sure to pick up all the excellent brochures on local wildlife and as well as a very useful map of the trails and nature-watching overlooks. I came here thinking it was going to be just another lighthouse and left wishing I had scheduled more time to visit during our vacation. It was a WONDERFUL experience!!! We look forward to returning hopefully when the lighthouse has raised the funds needed to be restored for public access to its historic interior. read more

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St Mark's Lighthouse is at the end of Lighthouse road in the St Mark's Wildlife Refuge, about 1/2 hour south of Tallahassee. The lighthouse itself is nice, it has history and takes a mean picture.. but we liked the location and setting the best. We missed the Monarch Butterfly migration (too early) by a week or two but the area was teeming with other wildlife and some Butterflies that march to the beat of their own drummer.. they don't need to follow no stinkin' crowd! Small fiddler crabs scurrying in huge groups.. Large hermit crabs shyly hiding in their shells.. and when we were there.. Dragonflies.. Dragonflies everywhere!! if I didn't know they were cool.. it would have freaked me out... huge ones flying all around... It's amazing that they don't run into you.. the pictures we took didn't do the quantities justice. Also, they have no shame as they copulated everywhere. There are a couple of trails and an observation deck. We took the small trail along the pond behind the Lighthouse, it was our first one, so we thought the crabs and birds were cool.. but we ran out of path quickly. There is a .4 mile trail that separates the Gulf from the fresh water, this is pretty cool.. halfway through there is a peninsula made almost entirely from shells... on this day there was a lone fisherman and lot's of those cool Hermit Crabs. If you continue on that path it takes you to the boat launch and the parking lot.. we decided to continue that way and make a big circle instead of going back along that same path. Glad we did.. it turned into a 1.25 mile walk and the scenery changed dramatically once we were even a little bit inland. The dragonflies were replaced by Alligators. Ok the gators weren't swarming, there were only a couple of them at that spot but they seem pleased to be admired and I tried not to spook them when I got closer (they went into the water when I did) This is the tip of the iceberg for our adventure at St Mark's Wildlife refuge, we walked several miles of trails in the interior.. but they have their own Yelp page.. so that's another story. read more

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Growing up in Tallahassee as I did, you inevitably made some sort of school field trip down to St. Marks to the nature preserve and the Lighthouse. They tell you the facts: that it's one of the oldest lighthouses in Florida, that it's located at the meeting point of the St. Marks River and the Gulf of Mexico, and other things that I'm sure Wikipedia could espouse - but what you don't really get and don't really appreciate until later is just how beautiful of a scene it is. You can walk on the beach behind the lighthouse for the best scenic views and to see all the little crabs scurrying around in and out of their holes. It's Florida at its finest, resplendent in all her natural beauty. Just a quick day-trip from the city it's a great drive on a spring morning. read more

St. Mark's Lighthouse - A view of the lighthouse from the beach behind - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Crawfordville, Florida

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The last one for us on our vacation as we traveled 98 East. St. Marks Lighthouse can be found within St. Mark's Wildlife Refuge. It's literally located on the coast in Crawfordville, FL As you enter the wildlife refuge(Fee $5.00 to enter), you'll drive 7 miles through the Refuge to the end where the lighthouse is located. It looks like it's had a fresh coat of paint. Perfect setting with the Gulf of Mexico right there. It's so tropical. Unfortunately it's not open for tours but I loved being able to view it. Definitely love the history that comes with each one. You'll see birds, butterflies and dragonflies galore here. read more

This is such a beautiful place! I saw a group of alligators (5), am eagles nest, a black bear, and a hawk munching on some food. There is a tremendous amount of different bird species. The lighthouse was beautiful and has great history to it. Definitely a place to visit if you want to see wildlife. read more

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This is classic Florida Forgotten Coast. The lighthouse itself is very cool, and not something you get to see everyday. If you are a student of history you should appreciate the role the Panhandle coast played during Florida's colonization and the Civil War in actions such as the Battle of Natural Bridge a few miles to the north. St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, which includes the lighthouse, costs $5 per person to enter, and provides the visitor an opportunity to view a variety of flora and fauna including sabal palms, saw palmetto, whitetail deer, seabirds & migratory birds, and, of course, ALLIGATORS! During our visit on an overcast winter's day we only saw alligator sunning itself, but even being from Florida and seeing alligators in the wild with some frequency you still have to appreciate the beasts. The lighthouse is located of the shore of Gulf of Mexico about 7 miles beyond the Visitor's Center and entrance to the park. The speed limit for this drive is a slow 35 mph in order to assure (I assume) the safety of the wildlife and visitors. Opportunities for outdoor adventures abound. For example, there is a paddling trail marked out on the visitor's map which runs parallel to shore. There are also opportunities for hiking, freshwater & saltwater fishing, boating, hiking, and even horseback riding trails. During our brief visit, which was on something of whim, we weren't prepared for any significant outdoor activities, but we did take the time to "hike" the .4 mile trail around one of the bodies of water adjacent to the lighthouse. During our winter visit this gave a chance to see a number of seabirds and jumping fish. It was a very tranquil experience and the sheer quiet of the area is something you forget even exists if you live in a city like Tallahassee. A must-see in the Panhandle. Go early, bring a picnic lunch, and just enjoy nature's wild beauty. read more

View was breath taking. Serene environment. Pure nature at its best. Saw Eagle nest and actual Eagle at top of tree while heading out to Lighthouse. Lighthouse not kept up. Needs to be maintained and brought back to its original beauty. read more

Really pretty area. The lighthouse is nice and there are places to fish, lounge around on the beach area, or go on some trails through the woods. There is also a butterfly garden(?) but it was inactive at the time when I visited. Looks like it would be fun to bring your family here, or a book, to spend some quality time reading. Didn't see any wildlife other than birds, but there were TONS of mosquitos. This was in April, so be warned. Wear your bug spray! read more

This is my favorite place near Tallahassee. The drive through the refuge towards the lighthouse never disappoints. Alligators, various birds including eagles, otters, etc. Short trails throughout! The lighthouse dates from the early 19th century and survived the Civil War. read more

I have been to St Marks Lighthouse a hundred times and pan on going a hundred more if possible. I have a year pass and I live about an hour away. The Lighthouse is like my refuge. My little get away. I never get tired of seeing the gators the birds the turtles or the Lighthouse. I had the opportunity in 2009 to actually go to the top of the Lighthouse. The last time I can remember it being open to the public. You can walk on the beach on the backside of the lighthouse for miles..I actually filmed four dolphins playing the last time I went. Awesome veiw of the water. A great place to visit, and for me over and over and over and over again. read more