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Pensacola Light

Pensacola, fl

Uniquely situated on the grounds of the Pensacola Naval Air Station, this beauty stands one hundred and ninety-one feet tall and flashes a white light every twenty seconds that can be seen for twenty-seven miles. She was built in 1858.

At the beginning of the Civil War, Confederate soldiers dismantled the light to prevent Union forces that were camped across the bay at Fort Pickens, from using it.

However, the South used the lighthouse as a lookout post to bracket Union targets for its own artillery. Inevitably, cannon fire from Fort Pickens damaged the light tower and scattered the spotters.

It should be noted, that as the South retreated, they burned and destroyed anything that might be of use to the North - but the lighthouse was spared.

The grounds are open to visitors.