MLA Celebrates Historic Preservation Month in Style

Historic Preservation Month is always a meaningful time for the Mayport Lighthouse Association (MLA), but this year felt especially significant.

Throughout the month of May, we had the opportunity to share the story of the St. Johns River Lighthouse in new ways, connecting with preservation partners across Florida, and celebrating the growing momentum behind our mission to relocate, restore, and return public access to this long-standing piece of Northeast Florida history.

One of the highlights of the month was our return to First Coast Living, where members of the MLA Board of Directors spoke about Historic Preservation Month and the work underway to save the St. Johns River Lighthouse. The conversation focused on what preservation can look like in action, especially when a community comes together to celebrate their shared history tied to this historic landmark.

We were also honored to attend the Florida Lighthouse Association (FLA) Spring Membership Meeting, where our lead architect for the project, Michael Blake, shared new architectural illustrations completed by Studio-Swaim that help convey our vision of what the St. Johns River Lighthouse could look like after relocation. These renderings offer an exciting glimpse into the future, imagining the Lighthouse standing tall along the banks of the St. Johns River in the heart of Mayport Village, with its long ago buried entryway once again welcoming residents and visitors alike.

Rendering of the St. Johns River Lighthouse in a potential new location along the Mayport Village Waterfront.

Courtesy of Studio-Swaim

Seeing that vision presented to fellow lighthouse preservationists (and friends!) from across the state was an inspiring moment. If you would like to become more involved with the state’s lighthouse community, we invite you to join the Florida Lighthouse Association, and if you would like to support preservation efforts, consider purchasing a “Visit Our Lights” specialty license plate, $25 of which goes towards grant funding for Florida’s 29 remaining lighthouses.

As a case in point, at the same meeting, the Mayport Lighthouse Association was deeply honored to receive a $75,000 grant from the Florida Lighthouse Association, which was made possible by the sale of the specialty license plate. This support is especially meaningful as we continue building on the positive results of our completed Feasibility Study and prepare for the next phases of work.

Historic Preservation Month also brought wonderful opportunities to share more of the Lighthouse’s history with the public. Through our “Take Me Back Tuesday” posts, we highlighted stories connected to the historic St. Johns River Lighthouse, the more modern, art-deco St. Johns Lighthouse, the St. Johns Lightship, as well as three very special historical birthdays–Asst. Keeper Alphonso Haworth, Asst. Keeper Josephine Daniels and the inventor of the Fresnel lens, Augustin Fresnel. These posts are one of the ways we continue to make local history more accessible, one story at a time.

The St. Johns River Lighthouse was also recently featured in the Jacksonville History Center's 2026 Endangered Historic Properties List for Duval County. While inclusion on this list is a reminder of the urgency of our work, it is also an important opportunity to bring more attention to the Lighthouse and the need for active preservation efforts.

We were also proud to see MLA Vice President Elizabeth Boggs have the opportunity to share the Lighthouse’s story with the help of the U.S. Lighthouse Society. Elizabeth was featured on the Light Hearted podcast, where she discussed the history of the St. Johns River Lighthouse, the work of the Mayport Lighthouse Association, and the effort to relocate the tower back to its home community of Mayport Village, which will facilitate much-needed restoration work and a return to public access. You can listen to the episode here.

Having the story of the St. Johns River Lighthouse shared with a national audience of lighthouse enthusiasts and preservation advocates is an exciting milestone for our organization. We encourage you to learn more about the U.S. Lighthouse Society and the work they are doing to support lighthouses across the country.

The St. Johns River Lighthouse has stood for 167 years and is the oldest surviving structure in Mayport, but for us, preservation goes beyond saving a structure. It is about saving the stories of the Keepers and their families who kept the light shining in service to our country. It is about retelling the stories of Mayport Village residents who grew up under the shadow of the tower. It is about current residents, waterfront workers, military personnel, and visitors who have their own memories and stories about the Lighthouse, and now it's time for a new chapter.

The work ahead is still significant, but this month reminded us just how much support exists for saving the St. Johns River Lighthouse. From local media and community history features to statewide preservation meetings and national lighthouse platforms, more people are learning about this historic structure and the effort to give it a new future as a symbol of the beautiful and resilient community where it belongs–Mayport Village.

We are grateful to everyone who continues to follow, share, support, and believe in our mission. Historic preservation happens one step at a time, and thanks to this growing community of advocates, the path forward for the St. Johns River Lighthouse is becoming clearer than ever.

Mayport Lighthouse Association, Inc.
PO Box 7148
Jacksonville, Florida 32238 info@mayportlighthouseassociation.org

501(c)(3) non-profit organization
REGISTRATION NUMBER CH67070
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES WEBSITE [FDACSS.GOV] OR BY CALLING TOLL-FREE [800-435-7352]. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

Dan Hogan, President
president@mayportlighthouseassociation.org
904-420-8839

Elizabeth Boggs, Vice President
membership@mayportlighthouseassociation.org

Beverly Oakes, Treasurer
treasurer@mayportlighthouseassociation.org

Valerie Bennett, Secretary
info@mayportlighthouseassociation.org