St. Simons Island Light facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
St. Simons Island Light

Lighthouse and keeper's house
Location	600 Beachview Dr., Saint Simons Island, Georgia
Coordinates	31°08′03″N 81°23′37″W / 31.13411°N 81.39358°W / 31.13411; -81.39358
Year first lit	1872
Automated	1954
Foundation	Tabby
Construction	Iron and brick
Tower shape	Frustum of a cone
Markings / pattern	White tower attached to a two-story brick dwelling with red roof
Height	104 feet (32 m)
Original lens	Third-order Fresnel lens
Characteristic	continuous white light with a more intense flash every 60 s

The St. Simons Island Light is a famous lighthouse located on the southern tip of St. Simons Island in Georgia, United States. This tall tower helps guide ships safely into St. Simons Sound. It also warns them about the many hidden sandbars in the water nearby.

History of the Lighthouse

The First Lighthouse (1810)

The very first lighthouse on St. Simons Island was built in 1810. It was an octagonal (eight-sided) tower, about 75 feet (23 meters) tall. At its top, a 10-foot (3-meter) lamp burned oil to create light.

During the American Civil War, the United States Navy set up a blockade along the coast. This meant they tried to stop ships from entering or leaving. In 1862, soldiers from the U.S. Army moved into the area. To prevent the lighthouse from helping the U.S. Navy's warships, soldiers from the Confederate side destroyed it as they left.

The Current Lighthouse (1872)

After the war, the U.S. government built a new lighthouse. It was constructed west of where the old one stood. This new lighthouse is made of brick and is 104 feet (32 meters) tall. It was finished in 1872.

The new lighthouse got a special Fresnel lens. This type of lens is very powerful and helps the light shine far. This particular lens is one of only 79 still working in the United States today. The lens spins, sending out four beams of light. You can see one strong flash every 60 seconds. To reach the top, you climb 129 steps on a spiral staircase made of cast iron.

In 1934, an electric light replaced the old kerosene lamp. By 1953, the lighthouse became fully automated. This means it could run on its own without a keeper always there.

On July 1, 1939, the group that managed lighthouses, the United States Lighthouse Service, became part of the US Coast Guard.

In 1972, the Coast Guard added two smaller lights behind the lighthouse. These are called "range lights." They help ships stay in the middle of the channel when entering the Frederica River. If a ship keeps the main lighthouse centered between these two smaller lights, it knows it's on the right path. This shows that the St. Simons Lighthouse is still an important tool for guiding ships.

Lighthouse Museum

Also in 1972, the building where the lighthouse keepers used to live was rented out. A group called the Coastal Georgia Historical Society worked for three years to fix up this two-story Victorian house. They turned it into a museum. In 1984, they also started managing the lighthouse itself.

Today, for a small fee, visitors can explore the museum. They can also climb the 129 steps to the top of the lighthouse. From there, you get an amazing view of St. Simons Sound and the area around it.

The lighthouse tower has been repaired and updated several times. This happened in 1989–91 and again in 1997–98.

On May 26, 2004, the Coastal Georgia Historical Society officially took ownership of the lighthouse. This happened under a law called the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act.

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary helps keep the light working. Jeff Cole has led this effort since 1993.

The St. Simons Lighthouse works with a water tower on Jekyll Island to mark a special line. This line separates St. Simons Sound from the big Atlantic Ocean.

The lighthouse is a beautiful and much-loved symbol of St. Simons Island and Glynn County, Georgia. Many artists have painted pictures of it.

Restoration in 2010

In 2010, the St. Simons Island lighthouse had a big renovation. It was closed to visitors for several months. During this time, all the old paint was removed from the inside and outside. Then, it was repainted. Eight iron posts that hold the handrail at the top were replaced. New ones were made to look exactly like the old ones. All the other ironwork was cleaned and fixed.

During this work, special care was taken to protect the valuable Fresnel lens. It was wrapped in bubble wrap, then shrink-wrapped, and finally put inside a strong wooden box. A temporary spotlight was placed on the lighthouse to keep guiding ships while the main light was off.

Museum and Heritage Center

The Coastal Georgia Historical Society lets people climb the 129 steps of the lighthouse tower. They also run the St. Simons Lighthouse Museum. This museum is located in the old keeper's house, built in 1872.

The Society's main office is in the A. W. Jones Heritage Center, right next door. This center has more exhibits, a research library, and a gift shop.

The Society also manages the World War II Home Front Museum on St. Simons Island.

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