Hilton Head Range Rear Light facts for kids
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 Hilton Head Rear Range Light
Location in South Carolina
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| Location | Hole 15, Arthur Hills Golf Course Hilton Head Island, South Carolina |
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| Coordinates | 32°9′51″N 80°44′24″W / 32.16417°N 80.74000°W |
| Year first constructed | 1879 |
| Year first lit | 1880 |
| Deactivated | 1932 |
| Foundation | Concrete Footings |
| Construction | Cast Iron |
| Tower shape | Skeleton tower Cylindrical stairs tower |
| Markings / pattern | White |
| Height | 87 ft (27 m) |
| Focal height | 92 ft (28 m) |
| Original lens | Oil lamps |
| ARLHS number | USA-972 |
The Rear Lighthouse of Hilton Head Range Light Station is also known as the Leamington Lighthouse. It is a lighthouse that is no longer in use. You can find it on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina in Beaufort County, South Carolina. This historic lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
The Hilton Head Lighthouse
This lighthouse was built by the United States Lighthouse Board between 1879 and 1880. It is a special type of lighthouse called a "range light." Range lights work in pairs to help ships navigate safely. When a ship lines up the front and rear lights, it knows it is on the correct path.
How It Was Built
The lighthouse is made of strong cast-iron. It has a skeleton tower design, which means it looks like a tall, open framework. It stands on six concrete supports. The bottom part of the tower is shaped like a hexagon and is about 30 feet (9.1 m) wide.
Inside, there is a round tower with a spiral staircase. This staircase leads all the way up to the top. The very top part, where the light used to shine, is also shaped like a hexagon. It was originally covered with wood, then sheet metal, but now these covers are gone.
Life as a Lighthouse
The light at the top of the tower was 87 feet (26.5 m) above its base. It was 92 feet (28.0 m) above the average sea level. When it was first built, the lighthouse used special oil lamps called Hains oil lamps. Later, in 1893, these were replaced with Funck-Heap lamps.
The lighthouse helped guide ships for many years. However, it was turned off and stopped being used in 1932. The front range light, which worked with this rear lighthouse, could be moved. This was done to adjust for changes in the shipping channel. That front light no longer exists today. There was also a small brick building nearby called an oil house. This is where they stored the oil for the lamps.
What Happened Next?
The house where the lighthouse keeper lived was cut into two pieces. It was then moved to another area called Harbour Town on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
Today, the old lighthouse stands on hole 15 of the Arthur Hills Golf Course. It is a cool historical landmark that you can still see.
