The 150th anniversary of the Inlet Lighthouse kicks off this month with celebrations of the construction and history of the red brick tower.

 

"The lighthouse will always be the heart of our community. We want to make it an economic engine that will generate economic tourism that will bring tourists who will spend money renting kayaks, visiting other local sites and staying in our hotels," said Jamie Stuve, president and CEO of the Loxahatchee River Historical Society, which oversees the lighthouse.

 

The anniversary comes a year after the federal government's designation of the 126 acres around the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse into a protected natural area.

 

"We're small, but we can be like a little national park. The national designation and anniversary gives us a huge opportunity to promote the lighthouse locally and nationally," Stuve said.

 

The federal government declared the property around the 105-foot-tall lighthouse protected in May 2008. Federal officials are developing plans for conservation, public access, passive recreation, shoreline stabilization and habitat preservation on the 126 acres.

 

Work is scheduled to begin next year, said Bruce Dawson, field manager for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

 

"We need to keep the public momentum going," Dawson said. "The plan, along with the $1.6 million in federal stimulus money already approved, is great news for the natural area."

 

Stimulus plans call for $495,000 for hiking trails, $500,000 for erosion control and $557,000 for lighthouse restoration and lighthouse keeper's quarters. The Bureau of Land Management will select the contractor.

 

Work on hiking trails and restoring the lighthouse is scheduled to start in early 2010. No date is set for work to start on erosion control.

 

The lighthouse property joins the $3 million Tequesta Drive Bridge as another north Palm Beach County project approved to get federal stimulus money. Bridge construction is scheduled to start early next year, according to Tequesta officials.

 

For more information, go to jupiterlighthouse.org. Or call 561-747-6639.

·         Nov. 21, 5:30-8 p.m. Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Fall Sundowner fund-raiser party on museum grounds.

·         Dec. 12: Holidays at the Light, features Tropical Surfer Santa, reindeer games, arts and crafts for kids, The music of the Grouper and his parrot friends. See Web site for times.

·         Jan. 9. Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse 150th Anniversary Celebration. Afternoon family outing and dedication ceremony. Birthday Cake-Off.

·         Jan. 23. Loxahatchee Guild Gala, evening cocktail party sponsored by the Loxahatchee Guild.

·         Feb. 14. Toast at the Top. Special Valentine's Day evening at the top of the lighthouse.

·         March 20. Seafare. All day festival with arts, crafts, and seafood on the museum grounds.

·         April 15. Tax Relief Night. Annual-fund raiser at Castaways Marina/The Square Grouper Tiki Bar.

·         May 29. Memorial Day Salute to the Armed Services. Evening fund-raiser.

·         July 10. First Lighting Celebration. Commemorate the first lighting of the beacon 150 years ago.

·         Completed in 1860 for about $60,000. First lighted July 10, 1860.

·         A complete $850,000 restoration was finished in 2000. About $335,000 in hurricane repairs were finished in 2006.

·         Light can be seen from about 20 miles offshore.

·         Lighthouse is built on a mound 48 feet above sea level. The lighthouse is 108 feet tall.

·         Walls are 31 inches thick at the bottom and 18 inches thick at the top.

·         There are 105 steps to the top of the lighthouse.

·         The lighthouse was placed on the Federal Register of Historic Places in 1973.