Florida - Amelia Island Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located on Amelia Island, on the south side of the entrance to the Cumberland Sound and the St Mary's River in Fernandina Beach, FL. This is the only remaining intact lighthouse of the Territorial Period. The tower was originally built 50-feet high and later increased to 64-feet. Its spiral granite steps were hand-hewed in New England. In 1970 the light was automated.

At the time of my visit here in 2000, the light was under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Coast Guard. The lighthouse was not open to the public, only view from the outside.

Florida - Pensacola Lighthouse

The Pensacola Lighthouse is located on the Pensacola Naval Air Station, FL, on the Pensacola Bay.

The first lighthouse was built in 1825 and located about 1/2 mile from the one shown above. The 1825 lighthouse was the first one built by the U.S. on the Florida coast. Its light was provided by a series of lamps and reflectors. After the Civil War, a first-order Fresnel lens was installed.

In 1858 the lighthouse pictured was built to a height of 191-feet above sea level, after the old one proved to be inadequate for coastal navigation.  The beacon from its first-order Fresnel lens has a range of 27-miles out to sea. In 1869 the new keeper's dwelling was built, and the day-mark of the tower changed. The lighthouse was electrified in late 1930's. In 1939 responsibility for the tower was transferred from the Light Service to the Coast Guard, and after the light was automated in 1965 it was no longer manned.

At the time of my visit here in 2000, the first-order Fresnel lens was still operating as an active light. The keeper's dwelling was leased to the Pensacola Lighthouse Association and served as the museum.

Georgia - Tybee Island Lighthouse

The Tybee Island Lighthouse is located at the entrance of the Savannah River on Tybee Island, GA. This is the fourth lighthouse to be built on the island. This lighthouse is also known as a light station.

The first lighthouse on Tybee Island was made of wood. It stood 90-feet tall and was reported to be the tallest building of its kind in America, at that time, and was the first public structure in GA. Unfortunately, that lighthouse was constructed too close to the shore and was threatened by beach erosion. Work began on a second lighthouse just before a severe storm washed the first one away in 1741. The second lighthouse, made of stone and wood was completed in 1742. A 30-foot flag pole was added to the already 90-foot tower, making it a total of 124-feet tall. This second tower, like the first, was built too close to the Atlantic Ocean and was threatened with destruction.

In 1773, a third lighthouse was completed on a site further away from the ocean and was built of brick with interior wooden stairs and landings. The tower stood 100-feet tall. In 1857, a second-order Fresnel lens was installed in the lantern room. The light projected from the lens was brilliant. In 1861 this concerned the Confederates enough at Fort Pulaski, that volunteers were sent over to burn the wooden stairs and landings in the lighthouse, to prevent its use by approaching Federal forces. The Union troops which occupied Tybee Island repaired the damage and used the tower to watch the rebel forces at Fort Pulaski until its surrender in 1862.

A new brick and cast-iron lighthouse was authorized in 1866. The lower 60-feet of the 1773 light were used as the foundation of this fourth Tybee Lighthouse. Ninety-four feet were added and a first-order Fresnel lens installed in the lantern room. The new lighthouse was completed in 1867, and the light could be seen for over 18-miles out to sea. In 1933 the light was converted to electricity.

The Coast Guard took over operation and occupied the Tybee Light Station from 1939 until 1987 when they relocated to Cockspur Island.

At the time of my visit here in 2000, the Tybee Island Light Station was one of America's most intact Light Stations, having all of its historic support buildings still on its five acre site. The Head Keeper's and First Assistant Keeper's house originally exhibited a unique style of architecture known as the "stick style."

Georgia - St Simons Island Lighthouse

This St Simons Lighthouse is on the island of St Simons, GA. It is located in the Village at 101 12th Street.

In 1804, four acres of land was bought by the Federal Government for $1 as the site for the first lighthouse and a one-story frame residence. Originally the lighthouse was to be built of hard brick, however, for economic purposes, most of the material used in the construction was "tabby." It's a mixture of oyster shell, lime, sand, and water. The tower was 75-feet, exclusive of the lantern. An iron lantern 10-feet high and 8-feet in diameter rested on top of the tower. The lighthouse was placed into service in 1810. During the Civil War, the lighthouse was blown up by Confederate forces in 1862 to prevent use by Federal troops.

A second lighthouse was constructed in 1872, which is the present light pictured above. It is equipped with the original third-order Fresnel lens which shines 18-miles out to sea. The 104-foot tower has a cast-iron spiral staircase consisting of 129-steps to the top. The adjacent keeper's house is a unique Victorian design.

In 1939 the lighthouse was placed under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Coast Guard. In 1953 they automated the light and the last lighthouse keeper retired.

At the time of my visit here in 2000, the keeper's dwelling was owned by Glynn County and all structures were maintained and operated by the Coastal GA Historical Society. The light was active and continued under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Coast Guard. The installation was open to the public with an entry fee.

Georgia - Cockspur Island Lighthouse

The Cockspur Island Lighthouse is located on an inlet off the southern tip of Cockspur Island. It marks the south channel of the Savannah River. The tower is 46-feet high.

The first lighthouse built here in 1849 was 25-feet high. Its light was provided by a series of lanterns and reflectors until 1854 when the lighthouse was destroyed by a hurricane.

This new lighthouse was built of brick in 1856 and equipped with a fifth-order Fresnel lens. The light operated until 1909 when it was deactivated. The Coast Guard abandoned the lighthouse in 1949 as a daymark, but the National Park Service assumed control of the light in 1958 by presidential proclamation.

At the time of my visit here in 2000, a new lantern room had been installed atop the tower, brick repaired, and the tower whitewashed. The light was inactive.