Hunting Island Lighthouse facts for kids

The Hunting Island Lighthouse stands tall in Hunting Island State Park near Beaufort, South Carolina. Even though it doesn't guide ships anymore, this amazing tower is a popular spot. You can climb to the top and enjoy incredible views! It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, meaning it's a really important historical site.

About the Hunting Island Lighthouse

This lighthouse is mostly made of brick. It also has a strong outer shell of cast iron. The tower is shaped like a cone and stands about 132.6 feet (40.4 m) (40 meters) tall. It once held a special Fresnel lens. This type of lens was very powerful for its time.

When the lighthouse stopped being used in 1933, its original lamp and lens were removed. Today, you can see a large lens from another lighthouse, the Morris Island Lighthouse, at the base of the tower. The top part of the lighthouse is painted black. The bottom two-thirds are painted white. This lighthouse never had a fog horn.

Today, an LED lamp inside the lighthouse flashes just like the original one did in 1859. It turns on at dusk and shines all night. This helps visitors imagine what it was like when the lighthouse was active. When it was working, its light could be seen up to 17 miles away!

History of the Lighthouse

Building the first lighthouse started in 1859. But sadly, it was destroyed during the American Civil War in 1862. After the war, a new design for lighthouses was created. This design used "segmented cast-iron" pieces. This meant the lighthouse could be taken apart and moved if needed.

The Hunting Island Lighthouse was one of only two lighthouses built this way in the United States. It was made from cast-iron sections. Each section weighed up to 1,200 pounds! These pieces were bolted together to form the outer shell. Inside, a brick lining made the tower strong.

Construction of the current lighthouse began in 1873 and finished in 1875. It has 167 steps that lead to an amazing observation deck. The stairs, railings, and support beams were all made by the Phoenix Iron Works company in Philadelphia.

The lighthouse was first built on the northern part of Hunting Island. However, the beach started to wear away very quickly. By 1888, the ocean was only 35 feet from the keeper's house! So, in 1889, the lighthouse and its buildings were moved. They were taken apart and rebuilt about a mile away to their current spot.

During the terrible 1893 Sea Islands hurricane, the Hunting Island Lighthouse became a safe place. Some people from a stranded ship found shelter there. The lighthouse continued to operate until 1933. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. In 2009, people celebrated the lighthouse's 150th anniversary.

Keeping the Lighthouse Strong

The Hunting Island Lighthouse is part of Hunting Island State Park. It is still open for people to visit. Money from South Carolina and a small fee from visitors help keep the tower in good shape.

In 2003, the lighthouse had to close for 18 months. Some of its cast-iron stairs had rusted and were not safe. Repairs fixed the cracked stairs. Steel braces were also added to make them stronger. These silvery-gray braces stand out against the black stairs. This helps visitors see which parts are original and which are new repairs.

The lighthouse seen before its current color scheme, 1972.

In 2019, studies showed that the lighthouse needed about $3 million in repairs. These repairs are for cracks and rust caused by weather. There's even a chance the lighthouse might need to be taken apart and moved again. This would be similar to what happened in 1889. As of January 2023, the lighthouse is closed for these repairs. It is expected to reopen in 2025.

Images for kids

• 
• 

  View from the beach, June 2009

• 

  The lighthouse seen before its current color scheme, 1972.