There is nothing quite as scenic or romantic as a beachfront view of a massive lighthouse looming against the skyline. This has been the subject of thousands of paintings since the inception of the concept of lighthouses. Unfortunately, time and nature have removed many of the once numerous lighthouses that once lined the coast of the United States. Today, only a handful still stand, and many of them go sadly unnoticed. To stand before a real lighthouse that actually once guided ships to safety is an experience that will be imprinted in the average persons' memory for a lifetime. You can stake your claim on this magnificent recollection in Daytona Beach Florida at the Ponce de Leon Light Station.
This awe-inspiring structure is a part of the Florida coastal history in that it was originally constructed in the late 1800's. Though it took years to restore, the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse Preservation Association finally got this marvel of architecture back to the original shape it was in during the days when it served the many ships that wandered through this section of the Atlantic Ocean. Over one hundred thousand visitors on an annual basis frequent this national landmark, making it one of the most popular attractions that Florida has to offer.
As you come upon it, you will be enthralled by the actual size of it. Most people only get to see lighthouses in pictures, so they do not realize quite how big these architectural works of art actually are. Of course, you are allowed to enter the lighthouse and make your way up the stairs. Nevertheless, take a moment from here to gaze upon the beauty of it, the sleek walls and the ruby red exterior. This is the memory that will stay with you when you head back home from your Florida vacation.
The actual tour itself is aptly called the "Climb with the Keeper Tour." In this excursion into the past, you will actually get a feel for what it was like to be the lighthouse keeper with all the responsibilities included therein. Your tour guide will be dressed in the traditional clothing of the original keepers. This person is highly trained and knowledgeable about every aspect of the keeper's lifestyle. They will lead you up one flight after another, pausing to tell you every detail possible on every aspect of the lighthouse, from the construction to the actual daily schedule.
The highlight (no pun intended) of the journey will be once you reach the top of this grand tower at the Lantern Room. The guide will teach you everything that there is to know about this massive beacon, all the way from the origins to the manner in which it worked. Then you can step out onto the deck and marvel at one of the most impressive views in all of Florida. From up here, it is not completely uncommon to have to look down to see the Seagulls fly through the area. http://www.ponceinlet.org/planningyourvisit.html
The grain of truth that supposedly sits at the center of every tall tail may have to do with his metaphorical search for rebirth in finding new glories in the New World in the form of resources and wealth. These would certainly be the next best thing to a new leash on life to the world-weary chancer that took up the task of conquering the "Island" of Florida.
Even without the mystical McGuffin embodied by the Fountain of Youth, Ponce de Leon's exploits, explorations and adventures in Florida are worth remembering.
Ponce de Leon was a veteran sailor and soldier of many years experience when he accompanied Christopher Columbus on his 2nd journey to the New World. He had fought the moors in Granada as a young man, and as such would prove a valuable asset to Spain's conquest of the America's in the violent years to come.
Ponce was the 1st European to land on Puerto Rico in 1508. He was made the Governor of Puerto Rico a year later, and his eventual capitol was named after his more pious namesake, San Juan. Local Indian tribes like the Tainos would have surely preferred San Juan over Governor Juan, who quickly enslaved them and forced them to work in the mines. In a familiar story, the indigenous peoples of Puerto Rico also died in droves from infectious European diseases that they had no natural immunity to.
Politics and legalities care nothing for the vastness of oceans, and that was true in Ponce's time as well. In 1512 Diego Columbus had pressed the Spanish Crown to sign over the right to govern Puerto Rico as part of an earlier agreement the king had made with his father Christopher. As such Ponce was removed as governor.
Unsurprisingly, Ponce felt cheated. Determined to recover his glory and good name, Ponce equipped three ships (at his own expense) and set sail for the undiscovered countries to the North.
In 1513 Ponce de Leon was probably the 1st European to set foot on what is today known as Florida (or maybe not, as he supposedly met a Floridian Indian who spoke decent Spanish latter that year). The date of the landing was April 2, the Pascua Florida, or Flowery Passover a.k.a. Easter Season. It is from this holiday the region received its name.
Still lusting for glory, Ponce returned to Spain in 1514. There he received a commission to conquer the Caribs of Guadalupe. He attempted this in 1515, but was unsuccessful and returned to Puerto Rico. It would be another 6 years before he ventured forth again.
In 1521 Ponce was in his 60's, no mean feat for an explorer in the 16th century. If Florida really did have a fountain of youth, he surely would have done his best to find it. With his time to claim a land of his own quickly running out he tried his luck in Florida once more. It was one time to many. Native Americans attacked his party and Ponce received an arrow wound. He made it to Havana, Cuba before he succumbed. Juan Ponce de Leon was entombed in Old San Juan.
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