Tortugas Harbor Light

Tortugas Harbor Light is a black iron lighthouse on the southeast bastion of Fort Jefferson, on Garden Key. The park lists it as a scenic photo spot, but the lighthouse itself isn't open to visitors. Look for its dark tower rising above the fort's brick walls; it makes more sense as a detail during a Fort Jefferson visit than as a separate destination.

For a photo, include part of the brickwork below the tower. That gives the iron structure context against the massive fort.

The present harbor light was finished in 1876 after hurricanes badly damaged the earlier Garden Key lighthouse. Iron was chosen because a cannon hit could shatter brick and send debris into the fort. The lighter metal also suited a tower built on a masonry bastion.

The earlier Garden Key lighthouse had a blind spot: its lantern-room door blocked light for ships approaching from the east, and its lamp and lens caused more trouble. The stronger light on Loggerhead Key took on the job of guiding ships around the reefs. This one mainly served as a harbor beacon.

The lighthouse stands just over 80 feet above the ground below the fort, but only 37 feet above the upper fort surface. Its lower tiers are hexagonal; the top two turn cylindrical around the lantern room. That change from angular base to round upper tower is easy to notice against the brick walls.

Dry Tortugas sits about 70 miles west of Key West, reached by boat or seaplane. There are no food, drinking-water or fuel services on the islands. Ferry passengers get breakfast and lunch; visitors arriving another way need to bring their own provisions.