St. Simons Island Light

{{Short description|Lighthouse in Georgia, US}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox lighthouse | image_name = Lighthouse and museum, St. Simons, GA, USA.JPG | caption = Lighthouse and keeper's house | location = 600 Beachview Dr., St.{{nbsp}}Simons Island, Georgia | coordinates = {{coord|31.13411|-81.39358|display=inline,title}} | yearlit = 1872 | automated = 1954 | yeardeactivated = | foundation = Tabby | construction = Iron and brick | shape = Frustum of a cone | marking = White tower attached to a two-story brick dwelling with red roof | height = {{convert|104|ft}} | lens = Third-order Fresnel lens | characteristic = F.Fl W 60s | module = {{Infobox NRHP | name = St. Simons Lighthouse and Lighthouse Keepers' Building | embed = yes | nrhp_type = hd | nocat = yes | image = | caption = | built = 1889 | architect = Bvt. Gen. O.M. Poe, Charles B. Cluskey | architecture = Gothic, Eclectic | added = April 13, 1972 | area = {{convert|3.6|acre}} | refnum = 72000386<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref> }} }} The '''St.{{nbsp}}Simons Island Light''' is a lighthouse on the southern tip of St.{{nbsp}}Simons Island, Georgia, United States. It guides ships into St.{{nbsp}}Simons Sound and warns of the many sandbars in the area.

==History==

=== Original structure === The original St.{{nbsp}}Simons Island lighthouse, which was built in 1810, was a {{convert|75|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} early federal octagonal lighthouse topped by a {{convert|10|ft|adj=on}} oil-burning lamp. During the American Civil War, U.S.{{nbsp}}military forces employed a naval blockade of the coast. An invasion by U.S.{{nbsp}}Army troops in 1862 forced Confederate soldiers to abandon the area. The retreating troops destroyed the lighthouse to prevent it from aiding the navigation of U.S.{{nbsp}}Navy warships.

=== Current structure === The U.S.{{nbsp}}government constructed a new lighthouse to replace the original, building it to the west of the original's location. It is a {{convert|104|ft|adj=on}} brick structure completed in 1872 and was outfitted with a third-order, biconvex Fresnel lens. The lens is one of 79{{nbsp}}such lenses that remain operational in the United States. Fifteen of these are in use in the Southern United States, of which two are in Georgia.<ref>[http://www.uscg.mil/history/docs/CG_Classical_Lens_in_Operation.pdf United States Coast Guard, Fresnel Lenses Still in Operation] {{webarchive|url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20090325232007/http://www.uscg.mil/history/docs/CG_Classical_Lens_in_Operation.pdf |date=2009-03-25 }}.</ref> The rotating lens projects four beams of light, with one strong flash every 60{{nbsp}}seconds.<ref name="cghs" /> A cast iron spiral stairway with 129{{nbsp}}steps<ref name="cghs" /> leads to the galley (or watch and service room). In 1876, the lighthouse was overhauled.

In 1934, a 1,000-watt electrical light replaced the kerosene-burning lamp and was fully automated in 1953.<ref name="lighthousefriends.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=328|title = Saint Simons Lighthouse}}</ref><ref name="cghs">{{cite web|url=https://www.coastalgeorgiahistory.org/visit/st-simons-lighthouse/|title=St. Simons Lighthouse|publisher=Coastal Georgia Historical Society.|date=|access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref>

On July{{nbsp}}1, 1939, the United States Lighthouse Service was placed under the jurisdiction of the US Coast Guard.<ref name="cghs" />

In 1972, the Coast Guard placed rear range lights on two towers at the entrance to the Frederica River off of St.{{nbsp}}Simons Sound. Entering the entrance channel at sea and proceeding inward, keeping the lighthouse centered between the two rear range lights keeps one in the center of the entrance channel. The lighthouse is, therefore, still an active navigational aid.<ref>Former BM2 George Harwood, USCG, who installed the range lights</ref>

In 1972, the lightkeepers' cottage was leased to Glynn County. The Coastal Georgia Historical Society spent three years restoring the two-story Victorian lightkeepers' cottage at the base of the lighthouse, which was then converted into a museum. In 1984, they leased the historic lighthouse structure. For a fee, the public can tour the museum and climb the 129 steps to the top of the lighthouse for a view of St.{{nbsp}}Simons Sound and the surrounding area.<ref name="lighthousefriends.com" />

The tower underwent restoration in 1989–91 and again in 1997–98.

On May{{nbsp}}26, 2004, ownership of the lighthouse was transferred to the Coastal Georgia Historical Society under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act.<ref name="lighthousefriends.com" />

The light mechanism is maintained by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, led by Jeff Cole since 1993.<ref name="cghs" /><ref>Coast Guard Auxiliary-Keepers of the Light: http://www.cgauxssi.us/html/ssi_lighthouse_.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901214027/http://cgauxssi.us/html/ssi_lighthouse_.html |date=September 1, 2013 }}</ref>

The St.{{nbsp}}Simons Lighthouse, along with the northernmost water tower on Jekyll Island, creates the demarcation line that separates St.{{nbsp}}Simons Sound from the Atlantic Ocean.

The lighthouse is a picturesque and beloved symbol of St.{{nbsp}}Simons Island and of Glynn County, Georgia. It is the subject of many paintings and other artistic renderings.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bansemer.com/georgia_lighthouses/st_simons_lighthouse.htm |title=Bansemer, R.L., Painting of St. Simons Island Light. |access-date=November 13, 2009 |archive-date=November 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091101123144/http://www.bansemer.com/georgia_lighthouses/st_simons_lighthouse.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== 2010 restoration === In 2010, the St.{{nbsp}}Simons Island lighthouse underwent a significant renovation. It was closed to the public for several months while all interior and exterior paint was sandblasted off and then repainted. Eight iron handrail posts at the top of the tower were replaced, having been recast from one of the originals. All ironwork was sandblasted and repaired as needed. During the restoration, great lengths were taken to protect the valuable Fresnel lens. It was bubble wrapped, shrink-wrapped, and finally enclosed in a plywood box. A temporary spotlight attached to the galley of the lighthouse continued to guide ships into the sound while the main light was out of operation.

===List of head keepers=== * James Gould (1811–1837) * Lachlan McIntosh (1837–1852) * Alexander D. McIntosh (1852–1855) * John F. Carmon (1855–1861) * Bradford B. Brunt (1872–1874) * Frederick Osborne (1874–1880) * George W. Ashbell (1880–1883) * Isaac L. Peckham (1883–1892) * Joseph Champagne (1892–1907) * Carl O. Svendsen (1907–1935) * Arthur F. Hodge (1936–1945) * David O'Hagan (1945–1953)<ref name="lighthousefriends.com" />

==Museum== The Coastal Georgia Historical Society allows visitors to climb the 129{{nbsp}}steps of the lighthouse tower and operates the St.{{nbsp}}Simons Lighthouse Museum in the 1872 keeper's house.

The Society's headquarters are in the adjacent A.{{nbsp}}W. Jones Heritage Center, including exhibits, the Society's archives, a research library, an event hall, a museum shop, and administrative offices. The Society also operates the World War{{nbsp}}II Home Front Museum on St.{{nbsp}}Simons.

== Image gallery == {{Gallery | mode = packed | align = center | OldStSimonsLighthouse.jpg|Original lighthouse, in 1848 | StSimonsLight2.jpg|Current lighthouse, in 2008 | StSimonsLight3.jpg|Lighthouse, long view, 2008 | St Simons Lighthouse restoration 2010.jpg|Under restoration, 2010 | St. Simons Lighthouse, close-up of top, Georgia, USA.JPG|Close-up view of the lantern, 2015 }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==Further reading== * Jones, Ray, (1988) ''Southeastern Lighthouses''. * McCarthy, Kevin (1988) Georgia's Lighthouses and Historic Coastal Sites. * Sullivan, Buddy, ''The Lighthouses of Georgia'', The Keeper's Log, Spring 1988.

== External links == * {{ARLHS link}} * [http://www.georgiascoast.com/index.php?set_albumName=georgialighthouses&name=gallery&include=view_album.php Georgia's Coastal Lighthouses] * [https://www.coastalgeorgiahistory.org/visit/st-simons-lighthouse/ St. Simons Island Lighthouse website.] * {{Commons category-inline|St. Simons Island Light}}

Category:Buildings and structures in Glynn County, Georgia Category:Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Lighthouse museums in the United States Category:Lighthouses completed in 1810 Category:Lighthouses completed in 1872 Category:Lighthouses in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Museums in Glynn County, Georgia Category:National Register of Historic Places in Glynn County, Georgia Category:St. Simons, Georgia Category:Tabby buildings