Key West Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters Museum

Homestalgia Archive

Community memory · 1846-1848 · Aug 7, 2026

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On October 11, 1846, a powerful hurricane, known as the 'Great Havana Hurricane,' swept through Key West. The storm's destructive force was immense, claiming lives and leveling structures across the island. Tragically, the original Key West Lighthouse, which stood near the shoreline, was among the casualties. The keeper, Barbara Mabrity, survived the hurricane, but six of her children died in the lighthouse collapse. This time, the replacement lighthouse was located further inland. The new Key West Lighthouse, an approximately 50-foot brick tower, was completed and lit in 1848, marking a resilient recovery for the island's vital maritime industry and serving as a beacon of hope after the devastating natural disaster.

Source: U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office, Key West Lighthouse history; Key West Art & Historical Society, Key West Lighthouse & Keeper's Quarters Museum historical account