Florida’s lighthouses have long guided ships through the state’s busy coastal waters, reefs, and inlets along both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Many were constructed during the 19th century as maritime traffic increased around the Florida peninsula and through the dangerous coral reefs of the Florida Keys. Offshore reef lights such as Alligator Reef Lighthouse and Sombrero Key Lighthouse were built on iron pilings directly in the ocean to warn ships of hazardous shoals, while coastal lights like St. Augustine Lighthouse and Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse helped guide vessels safely into ports and rivers. The towering Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse—one of the tallest lighthouses in the United States—stands as a prominent landmark on Florida’s Atlantic coast. Today these historic structures remain important navigational aids while also serving as museums, historic sites, and popular coastal attractions.