Pompano Beach in Broward County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

A History of Hillsboro Inlet Park

Photographed by Dave W, December 28, 2022

1. A History of Hillsboro Inlet Park Marker

Inscription.

A History of Hillsboro Inlet Park. . , One of the most historic locations in Pompano Beach, the Hillsboro inlet was given its name by surveyor William de Brahm in the early 1870's. The name honored British aristocrat Lord Wills Hill, the Earl of Hillsborough. It is not clear how the different spelling of the name came about., In 1885, when the government established a mail route along the beach, from Lake Worth to Miami, the inlet was one of the water barriers that the "barefoot mailmen” was required to cross by rowboat. In 1887, one of the mailmen, Edward Hamilton, found that his rowboat had been moved to the opposite side of the inlet. In his attempt to swim across, he lost his life. Edward Hamilton's body was never found. The beach mail route was discontinued in 1892, when a road was constructed between the two locations., In 1902, Congress appropriated funds to build a lighthouse at the Inlet. Five years later, the structure (officially known as the Hillsboro Inlet Light Station) began casting its light out to sea, Its light filled the 100 mile gap existing between the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse to the north and the Fowley Rocks Lighthouse to its south. It shines 27 miles out to sea. Over the years the lighthouse has been in continuous operation, with the exception of maintenance times and the "dark periods” during World War I and World War 2., The inlet was first bridged in 1925. With a swing span type structure. It was later replaced by the current bascule bridge in 1966., South Florida's earliest settlers knew the Hillsboro Inlet as a prime location for sport fishing. By the 1930s. several charter and drift boats were operating out of the inlet. As tourism increased, the charter boat fishing fleet expanded and has been home to many famous fishing guides over the years., In 1974, the lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the early 1990s, the U.S. Coast Guard proposed deactivating the Lighthouse due in part to maintenance issues. Local lighthouse enthusiasts formed the Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society and were able to come up with a plan to keep our lighthouse in operation and provide public access to the now historic structure., The City of Pompano Beach opened Hillsboro Inlet Park in 2005. The park's incredible scenic views of the inlet and lighthouse provide the perfect place for the perfect picture.

One of the most historic locations in Pompano Beach, the Hillsboro inlet was given its name by surveyor William de Brahm in the early 1870's. The name honored British aristocrat Lord Wills Hill, the Earl of Hillsborough. It is not clear how the different spelling of the name came about.

In 1885, when the government established a mail route along the beach, from Lake Worth to Miami, the inlet was one of the water barriers that the "barefoot mailmen” was required to cross by rowboat. In 1887, one of the mailmen, Edward Hamilton, found that his rowboat had been moved to the opposite side of the inlet. In his attempt to swim across, he lost his life. Edward Hamilton's body was never found. The beach mail route was discontinued in 1892, when a road was constructed between the two locations.

In 1902, Congress appropriated funds to build a lighthouse at the Inlet. Five years later, the structure (officially known as the Hillsboro Inlet Light Station) began casting its light out to sea, Its light filled the 100 mile gap existing between the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse to the north and the Fowley Rocks Lighthouse to its south.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

It shines 27 miles out to sea. Over the years the lighthouse has been in continuous operation, with the exception of maintenance times and the "dark periods” during World War I and World War 2.

The inlet was first bridged in 1925. With a swing span type structure. It was later replaced by the current bascule bridge in 1966.

South Florida's earliest settlers knew the Hillsboro Inlet as a prime location for sport fishing. By the 1930s. several charter and drift boats were operating out of the inlet. As tourism increased, the charter boat fishing fleet expanded and has been home to many famous fishing guides over the years.

In 1974, the lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the early 1990s, the U.S. Coast Guard proposed deactivating the Lighthouse due in part to maintenance issues. Local lighthouse enthusiasts formed the Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society and were able to come up with a plan to keep our lighthouse in operation and provide public access to the now historic structure.

The City of Pompano Beach opened Hillsboro Inlet Park in 2005. The park's incredible scenic views of the

Photographed by Dave W, December 28, 2022

2. A History of Hillsboro Inlet Park Marker

inlet and lighthouse provide the perfect place for the perfect picture.

Erected by City of Pompano Beach.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lost at Sea series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1885.

Location. 26° 15.617′ N, 80° 5.036′ W. Marker is in Pompano Beach, Florida, in Broward County. It can be reached from North Ocean Boulevard (Florida Route A1A) near Bay Drive, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2700 N Ocean Blvd, Pompano Beach FL 33062, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Florida,

on the Gold Coast,

and in Greater Miami.

It is also in the American South

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States

Paid Advertisement

of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hillsboro Inlet Light Station (within shouting distance of this marker); The Barefoot Mailman (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse (approx. 0.2 miles away); Silver Thatch Mounted Beach Patrol (approx. 1½ miles away); Indian Mound Park (approx. 2.7 miles away); Pompano Beach Indian Mound (approx. 2.7 miles away); The Pompano Colored School (approx. 3.4 miles away); Branhilda Richardson Knowles Memorial Park and Historic Cemetery (approx. 3.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pompano Beach.

Also see . . . Hillsboro Inlet Light. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on March 1, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 6, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. This page has been viewed 940 times since then and 77 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 6, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.