St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1931 to provide wintering habitat for migratory birds. As one of the oldest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System, it encompasses 70,000 acres spread out between Wakulla, Jefferson, and Taylor counties, and includes about 43 miles along the Gulf Coast of northwest Florida. The refuge includes coastal marshes, islands, tidal creeks and estuaries of seven north Florida rivers, and is home to a diverse community of plant and animal life. The refuge also has strong ties to a rich cultural past, and is home to the St. Marks Lighthouse, which was built in 1842 and is still in use today.