Page 2 - Jupiter West - February '22

Page 2, Jupiter West
Loxahatchee River Historical Society:

Illuminating History For 50 Years - From Oil House

Museum To A National Heritage Site

Jan. 27 marked a remarkable milestone for the local Inlet Lighthouse &
nonprofit Loxahatchee River Historical Society (LRHS). Museum serving over
Fifty years ago, the society incorporated to begin the 100,000 annual visitors
important work of documenting and preserving the area’s today, the society has
more than 6,000-year history. Today the society is best known honored the legacy
for operating the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum. of that first meeting
In 1970, Ethel Gravett took her son’s Cub Scout troop to between Ethel Gravett
visit the home of local historian and pioneer Bessie Wilson and Bessie DuBois.
DuBois. Bessie told the Cub Scouts stories of our history, As we look back
while showing them treasures, artifacts, and photos she over the past 50 years,
collected over her lifetime in Jupiter. When Ethel learned we honor the dedication
that Bessie was worried about the future of her collection, of the volunteers and
she had a vision that would change our community forever. staff of the LRHS for
Serving as the chair for Jupiter-Tequesta Junior Woman’s their dedication to
Club, she galvanized local civic organizations and other keep preserving and
community members, organized meetings, and formed the retelling the stories
“Loxahatchee Historical Society.” The following year, the of our unique coastal
society opened the first Lighthouse Museum in the 1860 Oil community and its
House adjacent to the Lighthouse. cherished Lighthouse.
First there was the urgent need for preservation. The Visit jupiterlighthouse.
society acquired the listing of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse org to join us for
on the National Register of Historic Places and the 1898 upcoming 50th
DuBois Pioneer Home, which they operated as a museum Anniversary programs
house from 1977 until 2007, when the county closed it for and events. Dedication of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area
renovations. Volunteers rallied to save the Lighthouse and
maintain it as an active aid to navigation when the U.S. Coast “Service is our number one priority”
Guard considered decommissioning the Lighthouse in favor
of a modern light atop a condo. 561-743-0070
The Loxahatchee Historical Museum opened in 1988 in
Burt Reynolds Park offering exhibits and creating a home www.palmspoolservices.com
for the DuBois and other collections. On Pearl Harbor Day
2006, the society opened the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse &
Museum in the restored WWII Navy Married Men’s Housing
building. The society then spearheaded efforts to obtain
permanent protection of the Lighthouse and surrounding
120 acres of sensitive habitat as an Outstanding Natural Area
(ONA) in the National Conservation Lands. These special
Conservation Lands are a part of the U.S. Department of
Interior and managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
The Congressional Bill was signed by President George W.
Bush on May 8, 2008 and gave the Jupiter Lighthouse the
national recognition it deserves. The society was named as a
managing partner, an unusual honor for a nonprofit in public
lands legislation.
From the opening of the first Lighthouse Museum in Expires 2/28/22.
the 1860 Oil House to the current operations of the Jupiter
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Ethel Gravett at the LHS Oil House Museum dedication in 1973
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