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At the southern end of Gasparilla Island to the Old Port Boca Grande Lighthouse find it. Right next to the lighthouse is located just two - a building that served as an assistant lighthouse keeper at home. Originally built in 1890, these two buildings were nearly lost at sea. In 1970 the coast had been eroded by hundreds of meters and the sea was beginning to reach the Lighthouse Foundation. local interest has grown and the government has taken measures to ensure the lighthouse would bearound for future generations.

When he was several miles upstream from the Lighthouse future site of phosphate was discovered in 1880, the phosphate was shipped down the river on barges to Port Boca Grande and then loaded onto ocean-going ships. Because of the increased turnover of the port, the Congress appriated $ 35,000 for the construction of a lighthouse on the southern tip of Gasparilla Island in 1888, and the Old Port Boca Grande Lighthouse was born.

lighthouse keepers andtheir families lived and worked in the lighthouse from 1890 to 1951. The Boca Grande lighthouse as a home for the lighthouse keeper and his family served, and served the two buildings next to it as the seat of the assistant lighthouse keeper. The custodian is responsible for the light to take until midnight, then it would be an assistant to tend the light for the rest of the night.

The Old Port Boca Grande Lighthouse is believed to have two souls. Throughout the history of the lighthouse, the young daughterof one of the guards died in the apartment, probably of diphtheria and whooping cough. The tour guides say they feel playing in one of the rooms of the building will be on the floor. A former Ranger who led tours of the lighthouse, often pointed to a door on the second floor and told visitors that it was a favorite play of the child. The former Ranger has also said that at midnight, the child can be heard playing upstairs.

The second ghost is said thatthe headless ghost of a Spanish princess named Josefa. The legend says that a Spanish pirate Jose Gaspar (aka Gasparilla), its treasure in the sand near where the Old Port Boca Grande Lighthouse, built about 90 years later buried. Apparently Gaspar fell in love with this Spanish princess he had kidnapped. She was not interested and when she rejected his love, he drew his sword in a fit of rage and cut off his head. Rogue, what did Josefa Gasparilla picked up hislifeless body and buried in the sand island. Unfortunately for them, his love for her was so great that they leave and the legend says he carried on his head with loved him for the rest of his days. Reports say they have seen headless ghost walking on the beach on Gasparilla Island, presumably in search of his head.

The U.S. Coast Guard automated the light in 1956. Ten years later, in 1966, the Coast Guard removed the light the building, which wasDeterioration due to neglect and beach erosion. In 1972 Lee County took possession of the lighthouse and surrounding 13 acres, and began a long process to save the building. The funds were raised by the Gasparilla Iceland Conservation Association, and the lighthouse has been restored.

The lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and in 1986 the lighthouse was lit, and returned as a functioning Coast Guard light service. In 1988 the lighthouse and the surroundingThe land was transferred from Lee County, Florida, and Iceland was Gasparilla State Park

The Old Port Boca Grande Lighthouse is open to the public. Although it is fenced, you can have a beautiful view of the lighthouse from the nearby park and beach. The assistant keeper's house is now used as a place to park rangers.