HILLSBORO BEACH, Fla. — The Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse has guided boaters along Broward County’s coastline for more than a century, but those responsible for preserving the historic landmark say it now needs significant repairs to ensure it remains standing for generations to come.
Unlike many people assume, the iconic lighthouse is not funded by the federal government or the U.S. Coast Guard. Instead, it is maintained by the Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society, a nonprofit organization that relies almost entirely on fundraising, memberships and public tours to pay for maintenance and restoration.
“We get zero dollars from the Coast Guard. We get zero dollars from the government,” said Ralph Krugler, historian for the Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society. “It’s mostly what we do with fundraising events and public tours in order to generate money. That’s why it’s taking so long.”
The lighthouse first went into service on March 8, 1907, and has become one of South Florida’s most recognizable landmarks. Krugler, who leads many of the organization’s monthly tours, says visitors are often captivated by the sweeping views from the top of the 11-story structure.
But the climb also reveals the toll more than a century of salt air has taken on the lighthouse.
Rust has eaten away at original iron components, and cracks and corrosion are visible throughout portions of the structure.
“Because of the salt air,” Krugler said. “The environment is just so hard on iron.”
Workers are now removing damaged material, applying new protective coatings and planning to replace deteriorating iron pieces with stainless steel, which is expected to better withstand South Florida’s harsh coastal conditions for decades to come.
The full restoration project is expected to cost as much as $2 million.
So far, the preservation society has raised only a fraction of what is needed.
“It’s taken us like 10 years to get $400,000,” Krugler said.
To help accelerate fundraising, the organization has partnered with local boating influencer Camilla Pavan, who created the “Save the Lighthouse” social media campaign and a GoFundMe page.
Pavan said she regularly passes the lighthouse while boating and believed social media could help bring more attention to the preservation effort.
“I knew it would go viral,” she said.
She said the preservation society had little social media presence before she became involved.
“Honestly, the Lighthouse Association was kind of not up to date when it came to donations and social media,” Pavan said. “So that’s when I kind of stepped in and tried to help.”
The online campaign has already raised thousands of dollars, giving preservation leaders hope they can build enough momentum to complete the restoration before the damage worsens.
“We’re trying to up our presence and get more people to realize that, hey, this is part of the community,” Krugler said. “If you really want it to stick around, can you help us out?”
The Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse is accessible only by boat. For information about tours or membership opportunities, click here.
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