This lighthouse is located on Morris Island at Charleston,
SC. The first lighthouse built near here in 1767 was crude and the first to be
erected in Southern U.S. Acting upon a decree from King George III, a tower was
built at the southern entrance to Charleston Harbor. During the Civil War it
was destroyed and this new tower built in 1876. The Morris Island Lighthouse
stands 161-feet high and has 201 steps leading to the top. It survived a major
hurricane in 1885, and the great Charleston earthquake in 1886. At one time a keepers dwelling was located nearby.
In 1938 the light was automated and shined until the beacon was extinguished in 1962. Until recent years, the tower could be reached by foot at low tide from Folly Beach on James Island, SC. However, because of heavy erosion, this is no longer possible.
In 1938 the light was automated and shined until the beacon was extinguished in 1962. Until recent years, the tower could be reached by foot at low tide from Folly Beach on James Island, SC. However, because of heavy erosion, this is no longer possible.
At the time of my visit here in 2000, the Morris Island
Lighthouse was believed to still be structurally sound, despite the beating
from Hurricane Hugo in 1989.
The Morris Island Lighthouse is also one of five lighthouses
selected to represent the southeastern lighthouses of the U.S. on postage
stamps. In 2003, the Post Office sold the stamps for 37 cents as printed on the
stamps. The other four lighthouses chosen were: The Tybee Island Lighthouse,
GA; The Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse, FL; The Cape Lookout Lighthouse, NC; and
The Old Cape Henry Lighthouse, VA.
I'm fortunate to have seen all five of the aforementioned
lighthouses, but was unaware at the time of my visit that these lighthouses
would later be honored on stamps. The picture below is similar to that on the postage
stamp, except for a fishing boat left of the tower and two sailboats right of the tower.
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