Located at the southern end of Gasparilla Island you 'l find the Old Port Boca Grande Lighthouse. Right next to the lighthouse. Fits its twin - a building that served as the lighthouse keeper & # 39; s assistant & # 39; s home. Originally Building in 1890, these two buildings were nearly lost to the sea. Starting to reach the lighthouse foundation. Local concern grave and the government took steps ensuring the lighthouse would be around for future generations.
When phosphate was discovered several miles upriver from the lighthouse & # 39; s, the phosphate was shipped down the river on barges to Port Boca Grande and then loaded onto ocean-going vessels. Due to the increased business of the port, Congress appriated $ 35,000 for the lighthouse at the southern tip of Gasparilla Island in 1888, and the Old Port Boca Grande Lighthouse was born.
The keeper The lighthouse keepers and their families lived and worked in the lighthouse from 1890 until 1951. The keeper The keeper The serve as a home for the lighthouse keeper and his family, and the twin building next to it served as home to the assistant lighthouse keeper. would take care of the light until midnight, and then his assistant would tend to the light for the rest of the night.
During the lighthouse 'during the lighthouse' during the lighthouse 'during history of the dwelling, the most likely of diphtheria or whooping cough. Tour guides say the she can be A former park ranger who led tours of the lighthouse, often pointing to a doorway on the second floor and told visitors that it was one of the little girl & # 39 ; s favorite places to play. the former ranger also said that at midnight, the little girl could be heard up playing playing.
Legend says that a Spanish pirate, Jose Gaspar (aka Gasparilla), buried his treasure in the sand close to where the Old Port Boca Grande Lighthouse was to be built She is not interested and when she revised his love, he drew his sword in a fit of rage and cut off head. Shamed by what he had done to Josefa, Gasparilla gathered up her lifeless body and buried her in the sand on the island. her for a long time for her, his love for her was so great that he did not want to leave her and legend says he traded his beloved Reports say that her headless spirit has been seen roaming the beach on Gasparilla Island, usually looking for her head.
In 1972 Lee County took over ownership of the lighthouse and surrounding 13 1956. Ten years later, in 1966, the Coast Guard removed the light from the building, which was deteriorating due to neglect and beach erosion. acres, and began a long process to save the building. Funds were raised by the Gasparilla Island Conservation Association, and the lighthouse was restored.
In 1988 the lighthouse was surplus in 1988 the lighthouse was relit and returned to the state of Florida and became Gasparilla Island State Park.
The Old Port Boca Grande Lighthouse is open to the public. But it is not used as a a view from the lighthouse from the nearby park and beach. house for the park ranger.
