Morris Island (Old Charleston) Lighthouse

Charleston, South Carolina

All Photos © Tim N. Touchton

Each photograph is available as an 8x10 for a cost of $ 12.00
plus $2.00 shipping. Check or money order only please.

Note: Neither one of these photographs look very good as an 8x10.

These photographs of the Morris Island Lighthouse were taken during Labor Day weekend
on Sunday September 6, 1998. We went to Haig Point, Harbour Town, Hunting Island,
and Morris Island Lighthouses on this day. It was a great trip. It was very foggy and
rainy when we were at this location. The wind was blowing strong and the sky was a
mess. Not a pretty site but a lot of fun on the beach and looking at the lighthouse. I took
these photographs from Folley Beach.

Information about the Morris Island Lighthouse:

Located on Morris Island (which is now gone due to erosion) at the entrance to the harbor
of Charleston. It was one of the colonial lighthouses that was turned over to the Federal Government
under an act in August 7, 1789. This second ligthouse was made of brick and built by the Colony of South
Carolina in 1767. It was a 102 foot tower with a First-Order Fresnel lens installed in it in 1858. In 1861
the light was destroyed during the Civil War.

The third lighthouse was built near the same spot as the second lighthouse and funds were appropriated
for the third lighthouse in March of 1873. The new tower was to be 150 feet in height and also built of
brick with a First-Order Fresnel lens. When this tower was completed it was actually 161 feet high. In
1960 the construction of a new lighthouse was underway across the bay from the Morris Island Lighthouse
on Sullivan's Island. This new lighthouse was commissioned in June of 1962 and is 163 feet in height. The
lighthouse is no longer in operation.

First Tower established: in 1673
Lighthouse: raised metal pan filled with pitch set on fire

Second Tower established: in 1767
Lighthouse: masonry conical shaped tower
Tower height: 102 feet
Original lens: First-Order Fresnel lens
Lighthouse destroyed: in 1861 during the Civil War

Present Lighthouse established: in 1876
Lighthouse automated: in 1938
Deactivated: in 1962
Materials: brick and stone
Diameter: 33 feet at the base
Paint design: white and black horizontal bands
Lighthouse height: 161 feet
Original lens: First-Order Fresnel lens
National Register Status: Listed #82003837

Current status of lighthouse: It was replaced by the Sullivan's Island Lighthouse in 1962
and was purchased by the non-profit organization "Save The Light" in 1999. It was later sold
to the State of South Carolina and is still being overseen by Save The Light for restoration
and stabilization purposes. It is now available for federal funding support.

Please visit the following Morris Island Lighthouse link:
Save The Light, Inc.

 

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