Jupiter Lighthouse

Spelling is important--don't let anyone convince you otherwise.  Just ask the Hobe Indian tribe which lived at the mouth of the Loxahatchee River in Florida.  A mapmaker mistook the Spanish spelling of Hobe, which is Jobe, for Jove.  Another misinterpretation  of Jove led to the name being identified with Roman god in Greek mythology, Jupiter.  Jupiter is the god of light, sky and weather.  

On the north side the Jupiter Inlet is the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse which sits on what is believed to be an ancient (probably Hobe) indian shell mound called a midden.  Middens are frequently confused with burial mounds.  Middens are really just a pile of shells that have accumulated over the years and become a hill of sorts.  

The Loxahatchee River Historical Society (LRHS) formed in 1972 to preserve the history of the area,  operates the museum and the lighthouse.  In 1988 LRHS opened Burt Reynolds Park  after Burt made a donation to build boat ramps for access to the inlet and rivers.  Rumor has it Burt still lives in Jupiter and has a standing Friday night reservation at Jetty's Waterfront Restaurant.  

Tours of the lighthouse built in 1860 include a visit to the museum.  The museum is in the adjacent restored WWII Naval housing building   The exhibit offers insight to life on the Loxahatchee River over five thousand years.  Besides a tour of the light house, visitors may visit the Keeper's workshop, the Tindall Pioneer homestead and a Seminole chickee.  A chickee is another name for an arbor with a thatched roof.  

Banyan Tree

 It was worth climbing 105 steps to the top to get this 360 degree view

Tindall House

Enjoying the shade under the chickee