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Sporting a brand new replica of a 4th order Fresnel lens, Florida’s Gasparilla Island Lighthouse was relighted this past February 9th in a celebration hosted by the Barrier Island Parks Society.
The relighting was the culmination of a $1.8 million restoration that was completed in early 2018. However, it took a lengthy process that involved six federal and state government agencies before the Coast Guard gave the final approval to relight the historic lighthouse that had been dark since 2016 as a private aid to navigation.
The 1881 tower once stood in Lewes, Delaware until it was discontinued in 1918, and disassembled in 1921, and shipped to Florida where it was reassembled. In 1932, it became the Boca Grande Entrance Range Rear Lighthouse. Later its name was changed to the Gasparilla Island Lighthouse.
The beautiful Fresnel lens replica was made by Dan Spinella of Artworks Florida Classic Lenses LLC, who has also replicated a number of other Fresnel lenses for other lighthouses.
The Barrier Island Parks Society was honored with the Florida Trust Award for outstanding achievement in the restoration of the Gasparilla Island Lighthouse.
All photos courtesy of Dan Spinella of Artworks Florida Classic Lenses LLC.
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