More Access to Cape Canaveral Lighthouse

This was reported on the Lighthouse Wackos Yahoo Group site-

That is great news. Thank you for sharing the article, Al.

Dennis


al wrote: This article appeared in today's
editions of Florida Today

Air Force deal allows access

Foundation signs pact to expand historic location

BY GEORGE WHITE
FLORIDA TODAY

The Cape Canaveral Lighthouse not only warns mariners of danger for 22
miles out to sea for the Coast Guard, but it also offers an important
glimpse into the past.

That's the reason behind cooperation between the Air Force 45th Space
Wing, which maintains the lighthouse, and the Cape Canaveral
Lighthouse Foundation, which wants to expand it as a historic site and
provide more public access.

The two parties signed a memorandum of agreement Dec. 1, keeping plans
on track to recreate the lighthouse compound, including running a gift
shop and re-creating buildings from the late 1800s from historical
architectural drawings, officials said.

"The 45th Space Wing applauds the efforts of the Cape Canaveral
Lighthouse Foundation to help educate the public about this historic
lighthouse and the early history of the Cape," 45th Space Wing
Commander Col. Mark Owen said.

"It is with pleasure that we sign this memorandum of agreement, which
formally enables the foundation to provide informative tours and
education outreach programs to the public about the only operational
lighthouse in the Air Force," Owen said.

Foundation president David Paterno, who co-signed the agreement during
a brief ceremony in front of the lighthouse, praised the spirit of
cooperation among all the related agencies that may result in
increased public access to the site.

A smaller 60-foot tower originally was located about a mile and half
east of its current location, closer to the tip of Cape Canaveral, but
it was moved to its current location in the mid-1800s because of fears
of the encroaching ocean. It was relit as a 150-foot-tall tower in 1868.

It was originally painted all white but was changed to stripes in 1873.

A refurbishment project has begun on the lighthouse including plans to
strip and repaint it to recover areas of paint that pealed off during
the hurricanes of 2004, officials said.

For more information about the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse Foundation,
visit the Web site www.capecanaverallighthousefoundation.com

Fantastic news! Thanks for passing it along, Dennis.

Don't mention it. I've actually been there- with a bunch of HL Lighthouse Wackos led by the head Wacko Dave Hannum.

I can safely say a good time was had by all.

Dennis

This is good news. The society has been working for a long time to be able to get better access for people to be able to visit the light. Don't think you will ever be able to just stop, get a vehicle pass and cruise to the lighthouse, but more tours in a year's time will give more folks the opportunity to see this light.

Now if they could only clear out the brush behind the light so you didn't always have to shoot into the sun....

Dave,

You're just never satisfied are you?

If they cleaned up the brush then you'd want them to let you go all the way up to the top of the Lighthouse wouldn't you?


Dennis

Already been there, Dennis......

Na Na NaNa Na....so there!!

I thought Dennis was on the same trip!!

You presume that was my first time there.

OK, so I used a bad example.

I wasn't meaning you specifically- I was actually meaning those alowwed to enter the Lighthouse for tours in general.

Dennis

Aha! So how many times did you check it out before you took a group - and when can we expect another tour? I am ready to sign up - I missed it on my Florida trip.

There is talk of moving the fence on that side of the base back, so employees don't have to leave during a launch...in other words beyond the lighthouse. Just talk at this point, if that happen a lot more people would get to see it.

Has anyone heard an update on the progress on the restoration and the possible opening for tours? We're heading down to Disney in December and I was thinking of taking a little side trip over to the Cape if I could get to the light. Any help?

MIke

Mike, the restortion was suppose to be done in July, however, after the project got going additional lead paint was found, so they think it will be October or November. Just in time for your trip.

That would be good, now if I knew I could get close enough to see it....

Mike

Cool, I would like to see that light again, and hopefully get to climb it . BTW, my legs still hurt from climbing Ponce yesterday!

Mike, it will have to be during a scheduled tour of the light. This is one station that does not allow anyone on board unless you have a Cape Canaveral base sticker or are sponsored on by someone assigned there and they are with you.

After restoration, getting to the lighthouse is suppose to be easier for the public. I think they plan on having certain days and times were the public will go to the gate and take a bus to the lighthouse. As far as climbing, so far only the choosen few (not me) have been to climb to the top. Us mere mortals can only go about 3 stories high and can't even see the staircase above.

If you can't get in and the weather is fair, I could meet you on a Sunday or maybe even a Saturday (depending on work) and I could take you out in Lighthouse Hunter from Port Canaveral and see it from the Atlantic. The boat is a 18' bowrider. The lighthouse is about 1 1/2 miles from the coast.

Hmmm, that sounds like a pretty good offer, Mike and Jim. I'd take Eric up on that one! I'll bet it's a fine view!

That sure does sound like a nice offer, however, we'll be traveling on the weekends, and only there for the weekdays, plus I'm not sure I could pin down an exact time traveling with kids :rolleyes:

Any body know if you can still get a good view of the lights anywehre on land?

Mike

A verrrrrrrry long view from a beach and fishing pier in town. If there are any rockets on launchers you need to hope they aren't black and white so that you will be able to pick out the light. Needless to say, bring a lot of lens with you.

Dave, when you are in the boat, part of the time the launch pads even without a rocket can block the view but only for a minute or two. The launch pads are closer to the beach than the lighthouse, so the lighthouse looks smaller than if it was in the old location (too bad they moved it, as the shore reversed on the erosion). Any way it is better than the land view, unless you get seasick. You can definitely pick out the lighthouse from the many launch pads (the old ones are still standing in most cases).

Maybe it's not worth the trip this time

Mike

Mike email me late October. I should know more by then.

Will do Eric.