Charleston Light

Charleston Light, also known as "Sullivan's Island Lighthouse," is located on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, which is the northern entrance to Charleston Harbor. The lighthouse was erected to replace the defunct Morris Island Light on Morris Island, which was at risk of being destroyed by erosion, but remains standing and was stabilized in 2010. Construction was started in 1960, and it was first lit on June 15, 1962.[4]

Charleston Light
Charleston Light on Sullivan's Island
Charleston Light
Charleston Light
LocationSullivan's Island, South Carolina
Coordinates32°45′28.5″N 79°50′35.7″W
Year first constructed1960
Year first lit1962
Automated1975
FoundationConcrete
ConstructionSteel with aluminum alloy skin
Tower shapeTriangular
Markings / patternUpper half black, lower half white
Tower height140 feet (43 m)
Focal height163 feet (50 m)
Original lensDCB 24
Current lensDCB 24
Range26 nautical miles (48 km; 30 mi)
CharacteristicFlashing white, 2 every 30 sec.
Fog signalnone
Admiralty numberJ2646
ARLHS numberUSA-825
USCG number3-195

[1] [2]

[3]
This photo of Charleston Light was taken on the ground below it, near the fence that surrounds it. This photo shows the unique triangular structure of the lighthouse, as well as its black-and-white color scheme.

Charleston Light has a steel frame, an aluminum alloy skin, and a triangular cross section. It is 140 feet (43 m) tall. Its slim, triangular structure was built to withstand winds of 125 miles per hour, and the focal plane of the light is 163 feet (50 m) above mean sea level.[4] Originally, it was painted white and red-orange, but was later repainted white and black after citizens complained about the distracting color of the upper half. It is the only U.S. lighthouse with an elevator and air conditioning, and was the last onshore manned lighthouse to be built by the Federal Government.[5] The Texas Tower Offshore Lighthouses were truly the last manned lighthouses and, were built later starting in 1961 with Buzzards Bay Entrance Light.[4]

It has a DCB 24 light. It originally had 28 million candelas (candlepower) and was the second most powerful in the Western Hemisphere. As the light was actually too dazzling, the power was lowered to 1.2 million candelas and could still be seen over 26 nautical miles (48 km; 30 mi).[6] Its characteristic is two 0.2 s flashes separated by 4.8 s every 30 s.[2] The light was automated in 1975.[1]

It is a non-contributing resource located in the U.S. Coast Guard Historic District. Now part of Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park. Although it was donated by the Coast Guard to the National Park System in 2007, the Coast Guard continues to maintain the light of the lighthouse, while the National Park System protects its historical significance and overall physical upkeep.[5]

Although this lighthouse is still a working light, many problems within its structure keeps it from being open to the public. Currently it is fenced off from civilians, but visitors are able to explore the surrounding grounds, as well as the adjacent public beach access, in order to view the lighthouse.[7]

Images
Charleston Light on Sullivan's Island
Charleston Light viewed from the beach at dusk
Charleston Light viewed from the beach at night

References
  1. "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: South Carolina". United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on 2017-05-01.
  2. Light List, Volume III, Atlantic Coast, Little River, South Carolina to Econfina River, Florida (PDF). Light List. United States Coast Guard. 2012. p. 2.
  3. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the United States: South Carolina". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  4. "Sullivan's Island Lighthouse - SullivansIsland.com". www.sullivansisland.com. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  5. "Charleston (Sullivan's Island) Lighthouse". LighthouseFriends. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-06-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "U.S. Coast Guard Historic District, Charleston County (Ion Ave., Sullivan's Island)". National Register Properties in South Carolina. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
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