The current lighthouse was opened in 1848 with a woman as its Keeper; nearly unheard of during the 19th century. The need for a lighthouse became evident almost immediately after the U.S. Navy established a base in Key West in 1823. The U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned the Key West Lighthouse in 1969, since there was no longer a need for a full-time Keeper due to technological advancements. Today, this sentinel of the sea stands as a museum dedicated to Key West’s maritime heritage and to the men and women who bravely kept the light burning through the threats of war and weather according to kwahs.org.
