Miami-Dade County's oldest standing structure turns 200 this year, and Key Biscayne residents can celebrate inside the tower itself on Friday, Aug. 7.
Friends of Cape Florida is hosting a free National Lighthouse Day celebration at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. The Eventbrite listing shows the event running from 5 to 8 p.m., though the park's website lists 6 to 8:30 p.m. Advance tickets are required either way, and admission is free.
The evening includes lighthouse tower climbs, a newly reopened museum inside the Keeper's Cottage, music, poetry readings, art and crafts, holographic displays, refreshments, and a recognition ceremony at 6:30 p.m.
The organizers are marking three milestones at once: 200 years of the Cape Florida Lighthouse, 250 years of America, and 35 years of the Village of Key Biscayne.
The 95-foot brick tower at the southern tip of Key Biscayne was completed in 1825, and its 15 lamps first shone on Dec. 17 of that year. Friends of Cape Florida celebrated that precise bicentennial in December 2025. The Aug. 7 event extends the anniversary year with a public party timed to National Lighthouse Day.
Christina Bracken, president of Friends of Cape Florida State Park, has said the lighthouse offers something screens cannot. "I think finding ways to tell the stories of Cape Florida and the Lighthouse in Key Biscayne might give people a deeper sense of belonging," Bracken told a local blog during the anniversary year.
The lighthouse's history runs deeper than most landmarks. Its first keeper, Captain John Dubose, moved his family to Key Biscayne in 1825, making them the first American family to reside permanently on the island. Before the tower was built, Cape Florida served as a departure point for the Saltwater Underground Railroad, where enslaved people and Black Seminoles boarded boats for the British Bahamas. The park holds a federal designation as a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site.
In 1836, during the Second Seminole War, warriors attacked the tower, killing Aaron Carter, a handyman stationed there. Assistant keeper John W.B. Thompson survived by throwing a keg of gunpowder down the burning staircase. The lighthouse stood dark for 11 years before being rebuilt.
The park itself is named for Bill Baggs, editor of the Miami News, who led the campaign to preserve the southern third of Key Biscayne. The state purchased the land in 1966.
Visitors should note that Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park closes once it reaches capacity, with no re-entry for at least two hours. Park entry is $8 per vehicle. The event is at 1200 S. Crandon Blvd.
Upcoming community events
- Saturday, Aug. 1: Coconut Grove Reunion at Virrick Park, 3255 Plaza Street, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free food, talent show, youth basketball, kids zone, giveaways and raffles.
- Monday, Aug. 3: Early voting opens at 7 a.m. for the Aug. 18 primary election. The closest location to Coconut Grove is Vizcaya's Historic Garage, 3250 South Miami Avenue. Early voting runs through Sunday, Aug. 16.
- Friday, Aug. 28: Coconut Grove Sailing Club Moonlight Racing, 2990 South Bayshore Drive. Free and open to newcomers, according to the Coconut Grove Spotlight.
