Just a short drive south from Tallahassee leads to one of the first wildlife refuges in the United States. The 68,000 acre preserve is spread out over three counties and protects the estuaries of seven north Florida rivers and a wide variety of avian populations.
     For lighthouse enthusiasts, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is home to a classic lighthouse. This picturesque scene shows the third beacon to grace the Gulf shore area and guide boating traffic around the Big Bend. The original light quickly succumbed to beach erosion and today's tower, dating back to the 1850s, was threatened by a hurricane and experienced extensive damage during the Civil War. The latest 150,000 dollar refurbishment has left the lighthouse in reasonably good condition, considering its 150 year age.