The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is one of the most recognizable landmarks on the Volusia County coast. Completed in 1887, a detailed history is here. I hadn’t known of its association with the author Stephen Crane:
“The SS Commodore set out on December 31, 1896 and sank in heavy seas the following night. Crane, the injured captain, and two other sailors found themselves in a lifeboat about 12 miles off the coast of Daytona Beach. Seeing the beacon from the lighthouse at Mosquito Inlet, the men were able to guide the boat to shore. One of Stephen Crane’s most famous short stories, “The Open Boat”, was based on this terrifying experience.”
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