The 176-year-old St. Marks lighthouse will finally be open Friday after months of renovations inside and out to restore its coastal and historical charm.

In an effort to make the experience more accessible and authentic, tours initially will run on the first Friday and Saturday of every month and be ticketed in blocks of 30 minutes.

“This will allow people to come in, park their cars have a quality experience with our interpreters,” said St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Ranger Robin Will. “We want it to be a source of wonder and amazement when they come in.”

Only 15 people at a time will be allowed inside. Guests will not be allowed to climb the spiraling stairs leading to the top of the 82-foot light tower, Will said.

Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first served basis and are not for presale. Tickets for lighthouse tours are $2 at the wildlife refuge gate in addition to the $5 entrance fee.

The tours will be run by volunteers, of which the refuge needs more.

“If they love lighthouses, if they love history, if they love St. Marks National Refuge, we want to know if they’re interested in being a volunteer," Will said.

The lighthouse was restored to resemble what it looked like from the 1930s to the 1950s. As a national historic site, the renovations were required to be as accurate to that time period as possible.

The project tackled termite and moisture damage to the wood throughout the structure and added fresh coats of paint made to withstand the punishing salt marsh coastline.

Pine floorboards salvaged from a barn in Georgia closely resemble the greying panels that were pulled up in December. Windows that matched the handmade panes from the 1800s had to be secured. Only 12 of the hundreds of steps leading to the top of the structure were fully replaced.

Lighthouse junkie? See more about St. Marks and the renovation process

The lighthouse is iconic to Wakulla County. Built in 1842 — three years before Florida became a state — it is the second oldest Florida lighthouse still standing, preceded only by the Amelia Island Lighthouse, built four years earlier.

While there is still fundraising needed, Will said, the project thus far has cost about $1.2 million. The work was funded by Florida Division of Historical Resources grants to the Friends of the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge, the Florida Lighthouse Association and by numerous private donations.

The next step is purchasing and installing a replica Fresnel lens — at a cost of about $42,000 — and getting the approval of the U.S.Coast Guard to light it.

“Our whole campaign is ‘Bring the past to light,’” Will said. “That is hugely symbolic to the community.”

Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter.

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Watch a video tour of the renovated lighthouse at https://www.tallahassee.com/videos/news/2018/05/23/sneak-peek-renovations-st-marks-lighthouse/637108002/

Monthly open houses will be held in 30 minute blocks for 15 guests starting at 9 a.m.

Friday and Saturday; Nov. 2 and 3; Dec. 7 and 8; Jan. 4 and 5