FLORIDA LIGHTHOUSES
February 17, 2018
The Cedar Key Historical Society and the Florida Humanities Council presented Brendan Burke on February 15, at 10 am at Cedar Key Community Center where he spoke about Florida lighthouses to a rapt crowd of over sixty people. Burke hails from Saint Augustine, where he resides and functions as the Associate Director of Archaeology at the Saint Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum.
Burke’s presentation detailed the history of organizations/agencies overseeing lighthouses, the logic behind each change, and their ultimate positioning as part of the United States Coast Guard. Entertaining stories, some most grim, he imparted about Cape San Blas, Cape Florida in Miami, Fowey Rock, Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas, and ending with his own Saint Augustine Lighthouse and Museum.
Consummately academic while not the least pedantic, Burke’s presentation had the charm of a story-telling, easily wrapped in historical fact, and woven into a delightful, informative, entertaining presentation. Extensive audience applause reflected participants’ appreciation.
Editor’s Note: The following is excerpted from the CKHS flier advertising the Burke event. The two paragraphs capture some of Burke’s presentation as well as Burke’s devotion to and energy for his profession. Both are well worth reading.
Since 2007 Burke has researched the commercial shrimping history of Florida and in 2013 coauthored Shrimp Boat City with Ed Long, a St. Augustine native. Considering the book, the 'beginning of a conversation' rather than the culmination, Burke continues his work to gather stories and information about commercial shrimping and wooden boatbuilding throughout Florida. When he is not researching commercial fishing, Brendan may be found underwater or onboard the research vessel ROPER, diving and excavating historic shipwrecks off St. Augustine. He holds a B.A. in history/anthropology from Longwood University and an MA in historical archaeology from The College of William and Mary.
"Over 50 lighthouses stand as silent sentinels along Florida's 1,300 miles of coast. From shifting sandbars to reef-strewn shallows lighthouses have endured hurricanes, earthquakes, even military attack. From the tops of lighthouses, keepers have watched ships come to grief and reported the destruction of U-boats during World War II. Taking many shapes and rising to various heights, Florida's lighthouses are descendants of one of the earliest known aid-to-navigation systems in North America. From St. Augustine's 16th century signal towers to an inland lighthouse in Lake George, Florida has a rich tradition in lighting its coast. The Sunshine State's lighthouses have been a source or curiosity, folklore, and refuge. This presentation follows the history Florida's lighthouses and includes select stories from our legacy of lighting the coast."
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