First Order Fresnel Lens
St. Augustine, Florida
Harbour Lights #695

The St. Augustine first order Fresnel lens was made in Paris, France, specifically for St. Augustine Lighthouse and was first lit on October 15, 1874, replacing a fourth order lens. It is nine and one-half feet tall, contains 370 hand-cut prisms and weighs almost two tons.

The lens has a rotation speed of 90 seconds. The lamp shines a steady white light with three bull's-eye panels creating a flash every 30 seconds. The light is visible for up to 20 nautical miles at sea from the 165 foot tall tower.
When first lit, the lamp was fueled by lard oil and changed to kerosene in 1885. In 1936, the light was converted to electricity, the last of the Florida lights to be electrified.

In 1955, the light was automated and began to operate 24 hours a day with the lamp being turned on automatically at dusk and turned off at dawn. It is an active aid to navigation with the lamp and lens maintained by the United States Coast Guard.

The lighthouse tower, buildings and grounds are cared for today by the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum, a not-for-profit museum.