The Crooked River Lighthouse was built in 1895 to replace three lighthouses on Dog Island that had been destroyed by storms over the years. The lightstation grounds originally included houses for the keeper and assistant keeper and several outbuildings. The lighthouse was first painted metallic brown, then its lower half was painted white, and finally its daymark was set as a red upper half and white lower half. After it was electrified in 1933, it was automated and left unmanned in 1952. In 1964 the two houses and all outbuildings were sold and removed from the site. The original 4th Order lens was removed by the Coast Guard in 1976 because of mercury leakage in the float container, and a modern optic replaced it. The beacon remained in operation until the lighthouse was decommissioned in 1995. In 1999 the Carrabelle Lighthouse Association was formed to restore, preserve, and open the lighthouse to the public, and that goal was achieved between 2007 and 2009. An acrylic replica of the original glass Fresnel lens was installed, and the lighthouse once again serves as an aid to navigation.