Boca Chita Key Historic District

Some of the historic structures are the lighthouse, the chapel and the open air picnic pavilion. Also notable are the stone wall and the cannon.

The island's 65-foot lighthouse was built by Mark C. Honeywell in 1938.^[3] Built at the north end of the harbour, in a tapered shape with “concrete bricks laid in common bond with the exterior clad in uncoursed limestone.” At the base the tower is 21 feet (6.4 m) in diameter and is founded on a 28 feet (8.5 m) square concrete base.^[14] The observation deck has protective rails painted in white paint, The dome fitted with the lantern light is steel frame cage. The entrance door has a stone projection. There is a circular staircase which is cantilevered from the wall of the tower.^[14] The owner of the island had built it with the objective of using it as a navigation guide for his business operations on the island. However, a few hours after the lighthouse was lighted and commissioned, it had to close down, as Honeywell had failed to inform and obtain permission of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Lighthouse Service authorities, about the purpose of his project. The U.S. Coast Guard considered it a navigation hazard as it was not charted. During Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the windows of the lighthouse were damaged and were replaced with funds provided by a friend of Honeywell.^[15] The dome of the lighthouse was also under repairs since July 2013 (damaged panels) and was expected to be ready by end of August 2013. The repairs to the lighthouse involved up-gradation with Hurricane-proof glass for the dome, apart from repairs and providing new vents for ventilation. Painting of the entire structure was also on the anvil.^[4]

As the lighthouse is not functional it can be visited (during September to May and some days during the summer months) only when the park staff or volunteers are available there. The top deck of the lighthouse provides scenic views of the bay, ocean, Miami, Key Biscayne, and the sky line of the Miami Beach.^[2][3]

The chapel is concrete structure of 12 by 20 feet (3.7 by 6.1 m) size built with uncoursed stone. It has a concave shaped roof with a steep slope^[14] The roof covering is made of asphalt shingles. Entrance doors are provided on the walls on northern and eastern sides. The southern door is flanked by a low level wall which is curved. Two identical openings are provided on the walls.^[14]

The picnic pavilion is an open-air structure which is located across the lighthouse. It is founded on a concrete raft as base which measures 15 by 52 feet (4.6 by 15.8 m). Above the concrete rafts ten square piers are raised along the longer length of the pavilion. The cornice and frieze are supported by the piers and above this is the roof in a hip shape covered with asphalt shingles.^[14]

A cannon is also one of the historic objects. It is located on the northeastern part of the key near the lighthouse. The gun's trunnions are fitted on either side of the cannon over the base which is an inclined with indentures. The cannon is rusted.^[8]

The stone wall was built with limestone on reinforced cement concrete foundation. The Honeywells built it to enclose the structures that were originally built in the Boca Chita area. The wall was built in several stretches. The first stretch was for 400 feet (120 m) from the Biscayne Bay to the south of the picnic.^[8][6] It then turned for a length of 35 feet (11 m) in curved alignment from t where it was extended to the west for further 309 feet (94 m).^[8][6] The next orientation of the wall was to then turned north for a length 155 feet (47 m) and ending close to the engine house. Initially the wall had seven gate at different locations of which there only three are extant; two gates, each of 19 feet (5.8 m) width, have high gate posts.^[8][6] The third gate 4 feet (1.2 m) in width has an arched opening. Hurricane Andrew destroyed the eastern two-thirds part of this wall, stone gate house and gate posts. The remaining one third of the wall has the arched opening.^[8][6]

Bibliography

• Register, National (May 28, 1997). "Boca Chita Key Historic District" (pdf). Official web site of National park Service.
• Kaiser, Harvey H. (March 20, 2008). The National Park Architecture Sourcebook. Princeton Architectural Press. p. 328. ISBN 978-1-56898-742-2.

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• Dade County listings at National Register of Historic Places