Join us on June 21st 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM to watch the sun set over the gulf from the Shell Mound pier in recognition of the summer solstice. Friends board member Lukas Desjardins will be providing a walking tour of Shell Mound, followed by a talk about the archaeological significance of the site and its relationship to the solstice. We will provide light refreshments and some bug spray, but participants are encouraged to bring their own bug spray to ensure they are fully covered.

During the its height of occupation around 1,500 years ago, Shell Mound was a site of regional gatherings by indigenous people on the gulf coast. Archaeologists have excavated extensive pits filled with the remnants of large feasts held during these gathering, and analysis of the juvenile white ibis bones from these pits indicates these gatherings coincided with the summer solstice. The significance of the solstice is also marked into the landscape, with the  parabolic dunes on which the site was constructed aligning to the rising sun of the summer solstice. You can learn more about the site from the Shell Mound on our website and UF's Laboratory of Southeastern Archaeology.

After years of limited public access since Hurricane Hermine swept through the Cedar Key area in 2016, the historic Seahorse Key Lighthouse will reopen to the public for a special one-day event from 9:00am to 3:00pm on July 3, 2026. The long-anticipated reopening marks an exciting moment for local residents, visitors, and all who treasure the history and natural beauty of Florida’s Gulf Coast.

​Managed as part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge, Seahorse Key is normally closed to public access except for a handful of designated open house events each year. This July reopening offers a rare opportunity to step onto one of the region’s most historically significant and ecologically unique islands.

​At this time, there is no weather contingency date planned for the event. Visitors wishing to attend must arrive by private boat or arrange transportation through one of the area’s local tour operators.

​The Seahorse Key Lighthouse has stood watch over the Gulf of Mexico since 1854, making it one of Florida’s oldest surviving lighthouses. Constructed before the Civil War, the lighthouse served as an important navigational aid for ships traveling through the shallow and often difficult waters surrounding Cedar Key and the Suwannee coast.

The light helped guide commercial vessels carrying cedar, seafood, cotton, and other goods during a period when Cedar Key was an important Gulf port connected to Florida’s early railroad system. Through changing times, powerful storms, and the isolation of island life, the lighthouse became an enduring symbol of the region’s maritime heritage.

Although the lighthouse was decommissioned in the mid-20th century, the structure remains an iconic landmark visible for miles across the Gulf waters.

​For decades, Seahorse Key has also played an important role in scientific research and education through the University of Florida. The university operates a research facility on the island that has supported studies in marine biology, coastal ecology, wildlife conservation, and environmental science.

Students and researchers have long used the island and surrounding waters as a living laboratory, studying everything from bird nesting colonies and salt marsh ecosystems to marine life in the nearby Gulf estuaries. The partnership between the University of Florida and the refuge has helped expand understanding of Florida’s fragile coastal environments while inspiring future generations of scientists and conservationists.

The island is perhaps best known among researchers for its large wading bird rookery and thriving populations of coastal wildlife that depend on the protected habitat provided by the refuge.

​Seahorse Key is one of 13 islands that make up the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1929 to protect nesting bird populations and sensitive coastal habitats. The refuge, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge Complex, provides critical habitat for a wide variety of species including brown pelicans, herons, egrets, roseate spoonbills, shorebirds, and migratory birds.

The refuge islands are largely undeveloped and carefully managed to minimize disturbance to wildlife. Because of this, opportunities for public visitation are intentionally limited, making events like the July 3 lighthouse reopening especially meaningful.

For many visitors, the trip to Seahorse Key is more than just a chance to see a historic lighthouse — it is an opportunity to experience one of Florida’s most remarkable coastal landscapes and to better appreciate the importance of preserving these wild places for future generations.

Whether arriving by private boat or local tour operator, guests attending the reopening are encouraged to prepare for summer weather, bring water and sun protection, and respect all refuge guidelines designed to protect the island’s sensitive habitats and wildlife.

After nearly a decade of closure following Hurricane Hermine, the reopening of the Seahorse Key Lighthouse represents both a celebration of history and a reminder of the resilience of Florida’s Gulf Coast communities and ecosystems.

​Recovery and restoration efforts continue to move forward throughout the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges as staff, partners, and contractors work to address past hurricane damage and improve visitor access.

​One exciting milestone is the reopening of Seahorse Key for its first public open house since Hurricane Helene. The event is scheduled for July 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and will provide visitors an opportunity to once again experience one of the refuge's most iconic destinations.

​Several major projects are now underway or scheduled to begin in the coming weeks. A $1.3 million habitat restoration project is moving forward, while road rehabilitation and debris removal efforts are beginning with support from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service equipment operators from other refuges.

​The refuge is also partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation on numerous infrastructure projects, including:

• Rebuilding the footbridge at Shired Island
• Resurfacing Fishbone Creek Road
• Restoring the Fishbone Creek parking area
• Repairing Salt Creek Road
• Replacing the Salt Creek observation platform and pier
• Replacing the Vista dock
• Repairing roads and resurfacing parking areas at Shell Mound
• Removing damaged portions of the River Trail boardwalk

These projects represent a significant investment in restoring public access, improving visitor facilities, and strengthening refuge infrastructure following recent storms.

​Despite operating with a reduced staff and budget, refuge personnel continue to make progress on a remarkable number of restoration and recovery initiatives across the refuge complex.