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."