Jupiter Lighthouse Park

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Park that surrounds the Jupiter Lighthouse, swings, playgrounds and water fountains can be found here.

In October 1905, construction of the U.S. Navy’s second wireless telegraph station was “nearly complete;” the first was constructed in Arlington, VA. Assigned call letters “RA" and known as Station J, the station soon joined the Navy’s growing roster of wireless installations.

The primary function of Navy wireless telegraph stations was communication with warships at sea. The stations provided another valuable service as well: transmission of accurate time signals, which were of great assistance in the days of celestial navigation. Starting in 1913, station RA also handled commercial radio traffic, both as a public service and to provide Navy operators abundant practice messages.

During WWII, Station J was used to locate the German submarines torpedoing ships off the Florida coast. Station J also served as a navigational beacon for military ships and aircraft, and for communications during the war.

Starting in 1958, most of the World War II military wood-frame structures were demolished. The only one left standing is the now preserved Married Men’s Quarters, a two-story wood-frame building with six two-bedroom apartments, each with brick fireplaces, and a continuous screened first-floor porch facing the Inlet.

In the 1960s, the Navy gave this portion of the Reservation, including this building, to the U.S. Coast Guard. In 2004, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management transferred ownership of this portion of the Reservation to the Town of Jupiter.

www.jupiterinletdistrict.org/BoatersGuide/history_Telec...
www.jupiter.fl.us/HistoryWeb/Jupiter-Wireless-Station.c...
earlyradiohistory.us/navy1.htm
www.flheritage.com/preservation/markers/markers.cfm?ID=...