Fourteen miles southeast of Beaufort, SC stands the
beautiful Hunting Island Lighthouse. The first lighthouse on this island was built in 1859 at a
height of 95-feet, but short lived. By 1862 the lighthouse was reported to
have fallen into the sea. However, conflicting stories make it unclear whether
it was destroyed by erosion, or actually blown up by the Confederate
Army during the Civil War.
In 1875 a new tower was constructed of interchangeable cast-iron sections so it could be taken apart if necessary. Due to the aggressive high tides and erosion the tower did have to be disassembled in 1889 and reassembled at its current site, one and a quarter miles from where the original tower was located. This lighthouse was built on an eight-foot thick concrete foundation. Distance from the ground to the top of the tower is 140-feet, and there are 181-steps to reach the top. The tower itself is 121-feet high and its walls are lined with brick. A second-order Fresnel lens was used until its retirement in 1933. Although an inactive light, this lighthouse is a beautiful landmark preserving local history.
The lighthouse is part of the Hunting Island State Park and is open daily to the public for viewing and climbing the stairs. The red brick in the foreground of my picture outlines the foundation where the one and a half story, twelve room, keeper's dwelling was located prior to being destroyed by fire.
In 1875 a new tower was constructed of interchangeable cast-iron sections so it could be taken apart if necessary. Due to the aggressive high tides and erosion the tower did have to be disassembled in 1889 and reassembled at its current site, one and a quarter miles from where the original tower was located. This lighthouse was built on an eight-foot thick concrete foundation. Distance from the ground to the top of the tower is 140-feet, and there are 181-steps to reach the top. The tower itself is 121-feet high and its walls are lined with brick. A second-order Fresnel lens was used until its retirement in 1933. Although an inactive light, this lighthouse is a beautiful landmark preserving local history.
The lighthouse is part of the Hunting Island State Park and is open daily to the public for viewing and climbing the stairs. The red brick in the foreground of my picture outlines the foundation where the one and a half story, twelve room, keeper's dwelling was located prior to being destroyed by fire.
