Sapelo Island Range Front Lighthouse

Year Built

1857

Cost

$2,500

Type

Square pyramidal

Height

25 feet

Location

Sapelo Island

Automated Year

N/A

First Lit

1877

Lens Type

Fourth order Fresnel lens

Fog Signal

None

Year Deactivated

1898

Color

White

Last Keeper - Date

N/A

Description

It is thought to be the oldest surviving iron structure in Georgia.

Brief History

•  In 1855 a wooden beacon light was built near the main lighthouse. It was damaged or destroyed during the American Civil War and replaced in 1868.
•  In 1882, the front light was moved some distance seaward, which increased the usefulness of the range by making it more sensitive to movements by mariners.
•  During World War II, the tower served as a Coast Guard observation post against the German submarine threat.
•  It was restored in 1997 by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, which manages most of Sapelo Island.
•  The ornate tower is located 600 feet east of the 1820 brick tower and received a fresh coat of paint when the State of Georgia restored Sapelo Island Lighthouse in 1998.