Miami's Icon: 200 Years of Cape Florida Lighthouse

The Cape Florida Lighthouse opens for public climbs, offering panoramic views and a closer look at one of Miami-Dade County’s most significant historic landmarks.

Visitors are invited to explore the 200-year-old Cape Florida Lighthouse at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne during Open House Miami. Organized by The Miami Center for Architecture & Design, the program provides access to the lighthouse’s 109 steps, leading to a recently restored cupola 95 feet above ground with sweeping views of Key Biscayne, Miami Beach, Downtown Miami and historic Stiltsville.

This open house experience is offered on multiple days during Open House Miami:

• Friday, February 27
• Saturday, February 28
• Sunday, March 1

First built in 1825, the Cape Florida Lighthouse is the oldest standing structure in Miami-Dade County and reflects more than two centuries of layered regional history. The site has witnessed Indigenous stewardship, U.S. military occupation, maritime navigation along the Florida Reef and its role as a departure point for formerly enslaved people seeking freedom via the Saltwater Underground Railroad.

The Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage Museum and gift shop will be open during the event, offering additional context on the site’s architectural, maritime, and cultural significance.