Touring Hillsboro Inlet

John and I happened to be able to spend one day in Fort Lauderdale, FL on March 13. We were lucky to be able to join with the Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society (HLPS) for one of their boat tours to Hillsboro Inlet lighthouse.

The first 3 photos were taken as we were approaching the dock. It is a US Coast Guard dock and you have to get special permission to dock there.









These pipes are part of the dredge system to remove sand to keep the Inlet channel open.


John and I are ready to enter the lighthouse for our climb to the top.

Looking through the lighthouse window on the way to the top.



Climbing the stairs.






Looking down on the old generator and radio building (behind the flag pole) which is now a "mini-museum".


View from the top.

U.S.C.G. bell dated 1923. The bronze plaque honors all the head keepers and their dates of service.



Looking up from the beach.





Barefoot Mailman Statue. This is in honor of the barefoot mailman that would walk the beaches between Palm Beach and the Miami River settlement. It was 40 miles on foot and 28 miles on small boats. A round trip to deliver the mail took Monday through Saturday. This mail service lasted from 1885-1892.



Leaving the lighthouse on the Intracoastal Waterway.



Thanks to HLPS for a making this trip possible.

Great photos and great job reporting, Lorie. Thanks for sharing.

One thing I should have mentioned is that the head keeper's and assistant keeper's houses are located next to the lighthouse (in the first picture). These 2 houses are now used for "R & R" time for Coast guard officers and their families.

Thanks for the pictures Lorie. Looks like you had great weather.

Great pics, Lorie !!!

Thanks for the tour. I've seen this LH - but only from afar and through the trees.

I'd love to be there for one of the tours - probably won't happen though.

Dennis

Wow looks like the rust has really set in, since the last time I visited. Of course I haven't been out there since 03.

Thanks, Lori, for sharing and bringing us along. It is really nice to see the lighthouse close-up and personal!

Lori, Great photos and commentary!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Rick

Nice job Lorie! New views and an insights for me.

Thanks for the photos - and the information on why one might want to visit closer than the little park next to the inlet.

I've mostly seen this lighthouse from the Atlantic after the first time we tried to go down the ICW to Ft. Lauderdale from Fort Pierce. Never again - there are over 20 bridges to be opened on that section.

We went from the ICW out the inlet once by mistake. I didn't take a photo at that time, but here's one of a sailboat going through the drawbridge



and then the inlet with the sailboat going out and a power boat coming in.






A half dozen boaters die each year using South Florida Inlets. Boaters should have good seamanship skills before using inlets. Strong currents and shoaling (in the inlets and just beyond the jetties) are common Florida inlet dangers.

Great shots! Hillsboro is definitely on my "To See" list as my grandparents used to vacation there many years ago.