The lighthouse was built in 1838 using materials taken from the former lighthouse (the predecessor of
Little Cumberland Island Light) on the southern tip of
Cumberland Island in
Georgia just north of the inlet, which had been built in 1820. The
brick tower was originally tall placed on a hill. In 1881, a lantern was installed on the tower increasing the tower height to with the focal plane height of above sea level. The tower for the light formerly on Cumberland Island was taken down and rebuilt on Amelia Island in 1838. The new light was originally equipped with 14 lamps each with a reflector when first lit in 1839. The reflector size was increased to by 1848. This arrangement was replaced by a
third-order Barbier Benard Fresnel lens in 1903, which is still used in the lighthouse. The Amelia Island Light was automated in 1970. The next-to-last civilian keeper of the lighthouse was Thomas J. O'Hagan, who was the son of the previous keeper, Thomas P. O'Hagan, and was married to a direct descendant of the first keeper, Amos Latham. The light remains in operation, but the lighthouse structure is now a private residence. ==Management==