Morris Island (Old Charleston)

Alternate Name(s):
Charleston
Type:
Year Established:
1768
Existing:
Yes
Source:
LL-1908
Morris Island (Old Charleston)
Download:
File Type:
jpg (image/jpeg)
Photo Date:
2015
Photo Credit:
Tyler Finkle
Collection / Donor:

LOCATION

Location:
MORRIS ISLAND/CHARLESTON HARBOR ENTRANCE
Latitude:
32° 45.5'
Longitude:
79° 50.6'
City / Town:
FOLLY BEACH
U.S. State:
South Carolina
Location County:
CHARLESTON
Country:
United States

OWNER & ACCESS

Open to Public:
No
Light List Data:
  1. Morris Island (Old Charleston)
Light list data courtesy Gary Riemenschneider

STRUCTURE

Year Discontinued:
1962
Year Tower Established:
1876
Tower Construction Material:
DRESSED STONE
Tower Foundation:
TIMBER PILING/CONCRETE BASE
Height of light above mean high water, in feet:
155
Height, in feet, from base of structure to center of lantern:
150
Tower Shape:
CONICAL
Tower Daymark:
Black and White
Fog Signal Building?:
No
Keeper's Quarters?:
No
Keeper's Quarters Style:
GABLED
Keeper's Quarters Construction:
WOOD/DESTROYED 1939
Other Structures:
NONE SURVIVE

OPTICS

Active Aid to Navigation?:
No
Current Optic:
REMOVED
Original Optic Type:
FIRST ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed:
1858
Private Aid:
No
USCG Access to Optics:
No

More Information

Documents Photographs Postcards Architectural Plans Newspaper Clippings Objects People
Comments:
  • 1673 - balls of tar and pitch in iron baskets were lit on the beach
  • 1767 - a 50-foot lighthouse is constructed, burning fish oil in the lamps
  • 1780 - British troops seize the lighthouse before the Siege of Charleston
  • 1790 - South Carolina transfers ownership of the lighthouse to the United States
  • 1799 - the lighthouse burns down
  • 1800 - a new octagonal lighthouse is placed into service
  • Jan 1, 1858 - a second-order Fresnel lens is placed into service
  • Dec 1860 - South Carolina secedes from the Union and lens is removed from the lighthouse
  • Dec 25, 1861 the lighthouse is blown up
  • Oct 1, 1876 the existing lighthouse is put into service with a first-order Fresnel lens
  • 1884 - fuel for the light changes from lard oil to mineral oil
  • Aug 31, 1886 - an earthquake hits, causing 2 cracks in the lighthouse, the lens is displaces and partially broken
  • Erosion slowly begins creeping toward the Light Station - the Keepers dwelling is sold and moved the others were razed
  • 1938 - the lighthouse is now at the waters edge. 68-foot interlocking metal sheet is installed around the base of the tower to protect the foundation.
  • June 22, 1938 the lens is removed and replaced with an acetylene automated light
  • 1962 - the lighthouse is deactivated when the new Sullivans Island lighthouse goes into service
  • The Coast Guard plans to tear down the lighthouse, but locals prevent its destruction
  • 1965 - the lighthouse is sold to its first private owner
  • 1999 - after a series of private owners, Save the Light, Inc, purchases the lighthouse to prevent developers from possibly destroying the structure. They purchase the tower for $75,000
  • 2000 - the lighthouse is sold to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources for $1, but is immediately leased back to Save the Light. The sale allows the Army Corps of Engineers to properly stabilize the lighthouse
  • 2008 - the first phase of restoration is completed. A cofferdam was sunk 30-feet deep around the lighthouse and rip-rap was placed in-between the cofferdam and foundation to further stabilize the tower
  • 2020 - interior restoration begins
  • Oct 1, 2026 - the lighthouse celebrates its 150th anniversary as Save the Light continues to fundraiser and preserve the lighthouse
    • Entered by:
    t.wheeler
    Entered Date:
    Jul 21, 2017