Fresnel Lenses at the St Augustine Lighthouse

The original Fresnel Lens was invented by Augustin Fresnel, a French Scientist, in 1822. The glass light prisms were hand cut and mounted on brass frames to make each part of the lamps light beam parallel so it could be seen out to sea 20 miles or more.  The Fresnel lens in the Saint Augustine Florida Lighthouse was the largest 1st order lens being over 9 feet tall. These are a few of the Fresnel Lenses on display at the Lighthouse Museum.