1825 – 2025: The 200th Anniversary Campaign
Cape Florida Lighthouse, a Landmark, a Symbol of Guidance and Beacon of Change.
Key Biscayne, FL (June, 2024)
The Cape Florida Lighthouse is a unique historical landmark perched on the southern tip of Key Biscayne in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The oldest standing historic structure in the county celebrates its 200th birthday in 2025. The Friends of Cape Florida are preparing a bicentennial commemoration of its First Lighting on December 17, 2025.
The Story: The iconic lighthouse was first constructed in 1825 to aid navigation around the Florida Reef, extending from Key Biscayne to the Florida Keys. Marking two centuries of maritime history, the Cape Florida Light, as it was called, and ‘Cape Florida’, the land surrounding it, feature importantly in the complex and layered histories of South Florida and Key Biscayne. These complex histories include: thousands of years of Indigenous stewardship, the U.S. military reservation at Cape Florida and the era of the Lighthouse in service to maritime traffic, the violence the Seminoles suffered by the hands of U.S. military leading to an attack on the Lighthouse in 1836, and Cape Florida’s role as the launching point for formerly enslaved peoples to flee from encroaching violence via the Saltwater Underground Railroad to the islands. Cape Florida Light is the focal point of many of these stories that traverse centuries of south Florida history.
Bicentennial 2025: Throughout 2025 and leading up to the 200th anniversary culmination on December 17, 2025, an extensive agenda of events and activities will commemorate and illuminate the rich history of the Cape Florida Lighthouse. The Lighthouse draws our attention to South Florida’s ecology and history from different perspectives. We invite you to be dazzled and inspired by bicentennial events involvingstorytelling, music, natural sciences, poetry, conservation, art, archeology and so much more. Events will be held at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park and throughout the county in collaboration with local advocates, artists, and institutions, including the local educational, cultural, and creative communities.
The Vision: The Friends of Cape Florida’s long-term goals include endowment-building, aligning with synergistic Community and Corporate Partners, and growing a robust membership base motivated and enriched by unique programming and curricula. We invite the entire community to partner, collaborate, and enjoy the bicentennial celebrations. Together, we'll illuminate the past, present, and future of this historic structure and its Cape Florida home, and the vivid histories surrounding it.
200th Anniversary Kick Off Event
December 17, 2024
200th Anniversary Celebration
December 17, 2025
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
Calendar: Bicentennial Events 2025
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About the Partners:
Florida Department of Environmental Protection: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Recreation and Parks is the agency responsible for protecting Florida's natural resources and cultural heritage. We are proud to partner in celebrating the Cape Florida Light's 200th anniversary. FloridaDEP.gov
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park: Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is a popular destination for about 1,000,000 annual visitors. Named in recognition of Miami visionary, journalist, civil rights advocate, and environmentalist Bill Baggs, it is known for its beautiful beaches, the historic lighthouse, and diverse natural environments. The park is home to the ‘Cape Florida Light’, and we are excited to be a part of this milestone celebration. FloridaStateParks.gov
Friends of Cape Florida: Friends of Cape Florida is a Citizen Support Organization (CSO; non-profit; EIN 55-0810948) dedicated to supporting Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park and the protection and celebration of its natural and cultural resources. We join in the preservation and promotion of the Cape Florida Light and its multi-faceted historical significance. We are thrilled to lead the efforts to celebrate this bicentennial anniversary. FriendsCapeFlorida.org
About the Cape Florida Light
The Cape Florida Light is the oldest standing historic structure in Miami-Dade County and one of the oldest surviving lighthouses in Florida. It was first constructed in 1825 and has played a crucial role in maritime navigation and the cultural heritage of South Florida. The lighthouse stands as a rich yet complex symbol of the region's diverse histories while being a treasured icon for residents, businesses, and visitors.
Media contact Christina Bracken. 786.367.6829.
Email 200@FriendsCapeFlorida.org