The Lighthouse at Bill Baggs Cape Florida

During the tear-down phase of the Virginia Key Grassroots festival Bill and I visited Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.  The park is roughly 4 miles from Virginia Key and one the southern side of Key Biscayne.  Considering the ease of bicycling in this area we opted to pedal to and through the park.  

Seawall looking towards Stiltsville

The park is excellent for bicycling with trails that parallel the main road allowing you time to dismount, admire the scenery, and avoid traffic.  One view is of Stiltsville which is actually in Biscayne National Park.  Their site lists...
Seeming to float above Biscayne Bay's shallow seagrass beds, Stiltsville has a colorful history that dates back to the 1930s, when "Crawfish Eddie Walker" built the first shack on stilts above the water. Over the years more buildings were constructed, and the area took on an aura of mystery. http://www.nps.gov/bisc/learn/historyculture/stiltsville.htm

The beach as seen from the light house

This park is interesting not only for the magnificent beaches but the history.  The Calusa Indians inhabited the area for many years prior to the arrival of the Spanish.  The Calusa were competent fishers and took advantage of the bays and estuaries.  

VIew towards Miami from the light house

The first lighthouse was constructed in 1825 by the US government and distroyed by a hurricane in 1835.  It was rebuilt in 1844 for shipping safety.  And alternate purpose for the reconstruction was the prevention of slave travel  to freedom in the Bahamas.  Black Seminoles and escaped slaves used the island as part of the Underground Railroad and passage to a new life thus the light house was to prevent the frequent night departures.

Lighthouse window

Bill admiring the Fresnel Light
This is a newer light
but the same size as the original

Bill Baggs was a journalist with The Miami News who believed Key Biscayne should be preserved in a wilderness state for the enjoyment of the general public.  Due to his efforts both Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park and Crandon Park exist today.

To the top of the lighthouse