Jupiter was incorporated in 1925 and marked its centennial in 2025. Its lighthouse was first lit July 10, 1860. Three National Register sites and how to visit.
Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. Sources: the Town of Jupiter’s history pages, list of designated historic sites and historic locations; the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places database (listed properties file dated May 22, 2026); and the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum.
People have lived at the Jupiter Inlet for thousands of years. The Town of Jupiter says archaeological finds in Inlet Village show people there as early as 500 B.C., and that the Tequesta and Hobe peoples settled its shores before European explorers arrived. The federal lighthouse, first lit in 1860, anchored the settlement that grew into the town. Jupiter was incorporated in 1925 and marked its centennial with a year of events in 2025.
Who to call
- Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum: 561-747-8380, 500 Captain Armour’s Way
- Town history questions and archives: Jupiter History Web Committee, 561-741-2351
- Historic designation of a property: Planning and Zoning, 561-741-2323
A short timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| About 500 B.C. | Earliest evidence of people in today’s Inlet Village, according to the town |
| Jan. 24, 1838 | Battle of the Loxahatchee, during the Second Seminole War, along the river west of today’s town |
| 1851-1860 | The Jupiter Lighthouse is planned and built in stages; first lit July 10, 1860 |
| 1899 | St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, the area’s first, built north of A1A and Saturn Street |
| About 1910 | The brick lighthouse is painted red |
| 1913 | The Aicher house, now at Sawfish Bay Park, is built by pioneer Harry Aicher |
| 1915 | The Florida East Coast Railway depot is built |
| 1925 | The Town of Jupiter is incorporated |
| 1928 | The lighthouse is converted to electricity |
| 2025 | The town’s centennial |
Sources: the town’s lighthouse, Inlet Village history, Seminole Wars, 1913 House and centennial pages.
National Register of Historic Places
Three properties with Jupiter addresses are on the National Register, according to the National Park Service’s listed-properties file:
| Property | Where | Listed |
|---|---|---|
| Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse | Where the Loxahatchee River meets Jupiter Sound | Oct. 15, 1973 |
| Jupiter Inlet Historic and Archeological Site | Address restricted by the Park Service; the town’s parks page places the DuBois pioneer home and an Indian mound in DuBois Park | Nov. 5, 1985 |
| Loxahatchee Battlefield | 9060 Indiantown Road | April 5, 2024 |
Places you can visit
- Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum, 500 Captain Armour’s Way: climbing tours of the 1860 lighthouse and a museum in a restored World War II building with Florida history exhibits and the Tindall Pioneer Homestead. Admission 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday; guided tours at noon and 1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Climbers must be at least 48 inches tall. It is run by the Loxahatchee River Historical Society.
- DuBois Park, 19075 DuBois Road: a county park on the inlet with the DuBois pioneer home and an Indian mound. Sunrise to sunset.
- Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park, 9060 Indiantown Road, 561-741-1359: the county park shares an entrance with Riverbend Park and preserves the site of the 1838 battles, with evidence of habitation dating back more than 5,000 years, the town says.
- Sawfish Bay Park, 1133 N. Alternate A1A: home of the 1915 FEC train depot and the 1913 Aicher house.
Town historic landmarks
Besides the National Register sites, the town has designated these local historic resources under section 27-2438 of the town code:
| Resource | Address | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Sawfish Bay Park | 1133 N. Alternate A1A | 2005 |
| World War II naval housing building | 500 Captain Armour’s Way | 2008 |
| Inlet Village Marina | 950 N. A1A | 2009 |
| Jupiter Civic Center | 351 N. A1A | 2010 |
| People’s Congregational Church (original circa 1924 section) | 430 Center St. | 2013 |
| Florida East Coast Railway Jupiter Train Depot (1915) | Sawfish Bay Park | 2015 |
| Sims House (circa 1924) | 322 Center St. | 2018 |
| Councilor’s House (circa 1945) | 305 Second St. | 2020 |
| Brooker House (circa 1943) | 1115 Cherokee St. | 2021 |
| Alice Kitching-Benton House (circa 1931) | 408 Center St. | 2022 |
| Old Town Hall Site (first purpose-built town government building, 1952; third schoolhouse, 1911) | 1000 Old Town Hall Ave. | 2023 |
Several of these are private homes; view them from the street. A 12th, a circa 1931 house at 358 Center Street, goes before the town’s Historic Resources Board on Oct. 19; see our public notices index.
What this means for you
- The lighthouse is the place to start; plan for a Tuesday-to-Sunday visit.
- Center Street holds four designated historic houses within a few blocks.
- Own an older home? The town has a designation process and preservation grant and incentive programs; ask Planning and Zoning.
Related: parks and trails, population and things to do this month.
Frequently asked questions
When was Jupiter, Florida, founded?
The Town of Jupiter was incorporated in 1925 and celebrated its centennial in 2025. Settlement around the inlet is far older; the town says artifacts there date to about 500 B.C.
How old is the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse?
Planned in 1851 and built over eight years, it was first lit on July 10, 1860. It was painted red around 1910 and converted to electricity in 1928, the town says.
What places in Jupiter are on the National Register of Historic Places?
The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse (listed 1973), the Jupiter Inlet Historic and Archeological Site (1985) and the Loxahatchee Battlefield at 9060 Indiantown Road (2024).
Can you climb the Jupiter Lighthouse?
Yes. The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Climbers must be at least 48 inches tall.
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