Hunting Island Lighthouse

Year Built

1859

Cost

$30,000

Type

Conical

Height

136 feet

Location

Hunting Island State Park

Automated Year

No

First Lit

1875

Lens Type

Second order Fresnel lens

Fog Signal

None

Year Deactivated

1933

Color

Top third black - white below

Last Keeper - Date

Theodore T. Gaillard (at least 1929 – at least 1930)

Description

As of January 2023 the lighthouse has been closed for repair and will reopen in 2025.

Brief History

•  Construction started in 1859, but was set back as the tower was destroyed during the Civil War in 1862.
•  By 1888 it was reported that the Atlantic Ocean's high tide had reached within 35 feet of the keeper's house.
•  At the time of the 1893 Sea Islands Hurricane, the Hunting Island Lighthouse functioned as a sanctuary for some passengers aboard the steamer "City of Savannah I" which had been forced onto the shoals.
•  In 1933, a lighted whistle buoy was placed offshore, and Hunting Island Lighthouse was deactivated.
•  The Atlantic continues to claim several feet of Hunting Island’s sandy shore each year. Currently, the tower stands 400 feet from the shoreline at high tide.