Cockspur Island Light facts for kids
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| Cockspur Island Light from the south, not in service | |
 Cockspur Island Light
Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
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| Location | Chatham County, Georgia, Savannah River, at Lazaretto Creek |
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| Coordinates | 32°1′21.6″N 80°52′47.8″W / 32.022667°N 80.879944°W |
| Year first constructed | 1837–1839 |
| Year first lit | 1848 |
| Automated | no |
| Deactivated | 1909 |
| Foundation | wood piles in oyster bed |
| Construction | brick |
| Tower shape | conical with ship's prow shaped base |
| Height | 46 feet |
| Original lens | Fourth-order Fresnel |
| Range | 9 miles |
| Admiralty number | J2803.4 |
| ARLHS number | USA-181 |
| USCG number | 3-4661 |
The Cockspur Island Light is a small and historic lighthouse in Georgia. It's actually the smallest lighthouse in the state! This lighthouse helped guide ships for many years. It stopped working as a regular light in 1909. But guess what? It was lit up again in 2007! Now it shines for history, not just to guide boats.
You can find this lighthouse on a tiny island near Cockspur Island. It's close to the Savannah River and Tybee Island. This special lighthouse is part of the Fort Pulaski National Monument.
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Cool Features of the Lighthouse
The Cockspur Island Light is built on a bed of oysters and mussels. This is a pretty unique spot for a lighthouse!
One really cool thing about this lighthouse is its shape. The bottom part, called the base, looks like the front of a ship. This special design helps the lighthouse stand strong against big waves.
You can't go inside the lighthouse right now. But many people visit the area by kayak. They often take a guided tour to see it up close from the water.
In 2005, the National Park Service made a path to get closer to the lighthouse. This trail starts at Fort Pulaski National Monument. It's about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) long. When the tide is low, you can walk to about 200 yards (180 m) from the lighthouse.
A Look at the Lighthouse's History
This lighthouse was first built to help ships find their way. It was a "daymarker," meaning it helped guide ships during the day without lights. Building it took a few years, from 1837 to 1839.
By 1848, the lighthouse got its first lights and reflectors. It had a steady white light from five lamps. This light could shine for 9 miles (14 km)! It was about 25 feet (7.6 m) above the sea.
In 1854, a big hurricane damaged the lighthouse. A new, larger one was built in 1855. It was designed by an architect from New York City named John S. Norris.
The Lighthouse During the Civil War
The light was turned off for a while during the American Civil War. This happened when Fort Pulaski was attacked. Even though the lighthouse was in the line of fire, it wasn't badly damaged! It was lit up again in 1866.
Later Years and Restoration
On June 1, 1909, the light was finally turned off for good. This was because ships mostly used a different, wider channel of the Savannah River.
The United States Coast Guard gave control of the lighthouse to the National Park Service in 1958. The lighthouse is now part of the National Register of Historic Places.
From 1995 to 2000, the top parts of the lighthouse were fixed up. But its base still needs protection from waves and tides.
On March 18, 2007, the lighthouse was lit up again! This was a special ceremony with the National Park Service and the U.S. Coast Guard.
In 2013, more rocks were added around the lighthouse. This helps protect it from strong currents when the tide is high.
Images for kids
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The original cap
