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Charleston - Sullivan's Island, SC


Lighthouse History

Built: 1960

Type: Triangular Shape Tower

Height: 163 feet

Status: Active

Location: Sullivan's Island

Lens: Equipped with 2 Rotating Beacons / Automated in 1982

Keepers:

Notes: In 1848 the first lighthouse on Sullivan's Island was constructed.  It was a red square structure that contained a 6th-order Fresnel lens with a fixed white light. This lighthouse lasted until 1872 when it was rebuilt. 
In 1988 another light tower was added approximately 690 feet from the first and the pair of lights became known as the Sullivan's Island Range Lights. They were use to align the ships in the Charleston Harbor Channel. The lights were renamed the South Channel Range Lights in 1899. These lights no longer exist on the island.
In 1962 the existing light was built to replace the Morris Island Light. The changing channel made Sullivan's Island the best location for the new light. Being built in 1962, the structure reflects the technology of the time. The tower is 163 feet tall and is built in triangular shape to help protect it from hurricane winds. An internal elevator ascends almost to the top with a stairway leading from the elevator to the lantern room. The lighthouse building contains offices and is therefore air-conditioned.
The initial lighting apparatus was also state-of-the-art.  In fact, with 28-million candlepower it was probably one of the most powerful lighthouses in the world. Not only was this unnecessary, but the heat created from the lights were dangerous, so in 1967 they were change to a lower intensity that only emitted 1,170,000 candlepower - still a very powerful light. Visible from twenty-six miles, the light has a unique flashing characteristic consisting of a 0.2-second flash, a 4.8-second eclipse, another 0.2-second flash, and a 24.8-second eclipse.  The lights were automated in 1982 and remain on both day and night. 

Directions: Take US 17 to SC703 and follow that through Mt. Pleasant to Sullivan's Island.  The lighthouse can be easily seen from the road but is on U.S. Coast Guard property and which is closed to the public.


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