Sanibel Island Lighthouse
In 2022, Hurricane Ian severely damaged the station, destroying both keeper’s houses and all of the remaining outbuildings. The tower lost one leg, but was still standing as of September 29, 2022.
The Sanibel Island Light or Point Ybel Light was one of the first lighthouses on Florida’s Gulf coast north of Key West and the Dry Tortugas. The light, 98-foot above sea level, on an iron skeleton tower was first lit on August 20, 1884 and has a central spiral staircase beginning about 10 feet above the ground. It is located on the eastern tip of Sanibel Island, and was built to mark the entrance to San Carlos Bay for ships calling at the port of Punta Rassa, across San Carlos Bay from Sanibel Island. The grounds are open to the public, but the lighthouse itself is not.
Residents of Sanibel Island first petitioned for a lighthouse in 1833, but no action was taken. In 1856 the Lighthouse Board recommended a lighthouse on Sanibel Island, but Congress took no action. In 1877 government workers surveyed the eastern end of the island and reserved it for a lighthouse. Congress finally appropriated funds for a lighthouse in 1883. The foundation for the new lighthouse was completed in early 1884, but the ship bringing ironwork for the tower sank two miles from Sanibel Island. A crew of hard-hat divers from Key West recovered all but two of the pieces for the tower.
Punta Rassa became an important port in the 1830s and remained so up to the Spanish–American War. It was primarily used to ship cattle from Florida to Cuba. Until the railroads reached the area in the 1880s, ranchers drove their cattle from open ranges in central Florida to Punta Rassa for shipment to Cuba.
The lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The City of Sanibel now owns the Point Ybel tract and structures, although the tower is still operational under U.S. Coast Guard control.
Where it is:
The Lighthouse is located 110 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957 in Lighthouse Beach Park owned by the city of Sanibel Florida.
From Interstate 75 just south of Fort Myers, take Exit 131 (Daniels Parkway) west to Summerlin Road. Follow Summerlin Road to the Sanibel Causeway, which requires a toll. Drive across the causeway onto Sanibel Island. At the four-way stop sign turn left on Periwinkle Way and follow it to the eastern end of the island, where you will find signs to guide you to metered parking for Sanibel Lighthouse.
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
GPS:
26.4530301178751, -82.01426872691904
Cost:
Hours:
Open 24 hours per day.
- Handicapped Accessible (Free Handicapped Parking)
- Acreage = 44.77
- 152 Parking Spaces with Limited RV parking spaces
- Bike Racks
- Outside Showers
- Drinking Fountains
- Restrooms
- Picnic Areas
- Barbecue Grills
- Shade Pavilion
- Information Kiosks
- Fishing Pier
Sanibel Island Lighthouse Photo Gallery
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More Photographic Destinations in Florida
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
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Great Places for Great Photos
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Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
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