The island's first lighthouse was built in 1859 at a height of 95-feet, but it was short lived. By 1862 it was reported to have fallen into the sea. However, conflicting stories make it unclear whether it may have been destroyed by erosion or blown up by the Confederate Army during the Civil War.
A new tower was constructed of interchangeable cast-iron sections in 1875, which could be taken apart if necessary. Due to the aggressive high tides and erosion, the tower was disassembled in 1889 and reassembled at its current site, one and a quarter miles from where the original tower was located. It is built on an eight-foot thick concrete foundation. The lighthouse is 140-feet tall, including lantern room, and there are 181-steps to reach the top. The tower itself is 121-feet tall with its walls brick lined. A second-order Fresnel lens was used until its retirement in 1933.
At the time of my visit here in 2000, the light was inactive. This lighthouse, part of the Hunting Island State Park, was open daily to the public for viewing and climbing the stairs. Note the red brick in the foreground of my picture. That brick outlines the foundation where the keepers quarters were located prior to being destroyed by fire.
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