When Amelia Island’s Lighthouse lantern first sent its beam out to sea, Florida was not yet a state. Through the years, the old sailing ships gave way to modern freighters and fishing boats. The beacon kept shining and still guides seafarers into the channel toward the Fernandina Harbor.
The City of Fernandina Beach received possession of the lighthouse from the U.S. Coast Guard in 2001. The Coast Guard, with the help of local Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers, is responsible for the function of the beacon. The City will preserve this monument, recognizing its importance as one of the island’s most visible and beloved historic sites.
The Amelia Island Lighthouse property, located at 215 O’Hagan Lane (accessible from North Wolff Street), is open to the public for viewing on Saturdays from 11:00am – 2:00pm. Please note that only the grounds around the Lighthouse are accessible on Saturdays. For access to inside the Lighthouse, please call 904-310-3350 or visit the Atlantic Recreation Center at 2500 Atlantic Avenuet to register for a tour.
Don't Waste Your Time
Calling this lighthouse a tourist attraction is a bit of a stretch, considering that it's open to the public a mere three hours per week. If you show up anytime except Saturday between 11:00-2:00, you'll see nothing.
In fact, if you arrive at any other time, you can barely even see the structure from the gate because tall pine trees block your view. And you have to meander through twisty streets up a hill in a residential neighborhood just to get to the entrance gate.
When we arrived at the one-lane entrance, I got out of the car to see if I could get a better view of the lighthouse. I couldn't. Meanwhile, we ended up blocking the driveway of a homeowner who lives directly adjacent to the lighthouse. The owner couldn't get into his garage until we backed the car out of the lighthouse driveway, which was a tricky undertaking in itself.
I've visited magnificent lighthouses in Florida, including the St. Augustine and Ponce Inlet lights, which are well worth the time and the climb. Based on reading some of the other TripAdvisor reviews about the Amelia Island Lighthouse, we didn't miss much here.
Seen from a distance
Only open certain times and certain days. Seems like in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Wanted to climb to top but to difficult to plan.
Saturday visit to exterior
On Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. you can walk around this lighthouse's exterior. It's a very quick stop with extremely limited parking. An escorted tour which can be booked is probably the best way to go. I was close by after visiting Fort Clinch so not a big disappointment.
Wow. Run. Just say No.
The history is great and interesting. Everything else is just awful. The shuttle ride over has no AC and closed windows. It's July.....ugh. Than you get treated to 10yr old DVD on a 32in tube TV that you can't see and barely hear. Than when you think the pain is over your surprised with another 10yr old DVD of an old lady while with an impressive background is just incoherent and struggles speaking throughout. Finally it ends and you think it's time to finally climb and see the light house and beautiful views...hahaha you'd be mistaken. You get to peek your head in and look up.....yes just look in and look up Than congrats your pain and boredom is about to be rewarded with another fantastic shuttle ride with no AC except this time everyone is good and sweaty and at a complete loss of words over the trauma of this experience and having to watch a DVD of a poor old lady being forced to fill 30mins on a video. Please do your self a favor run. Don't do this to yourself or at the very least don't do this to anyone you love.
Limited hours
It's tucked in neighborhood at a gate. Only go when open or the gate is closed to the grounds. (And open is about 3 hours a week on Sat. And tours 2x a month.) The grounds are small so it seems like it would be hard to get good photos of people AND the lighthouse together.