Walkabout With Wheels Blog: Visiting the Saint Simons Lighthouse on Saint Simons Island

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Visiting the Saint Simons Lighthouse on Saint Simons Island

Eric parks the Jeep beneath
the 104 foot Saint Simons
Lighthouse.

The Coastal Georgia Historical

Society preserves the Lighthouse

& does fundraising for its

continual upkeep.

After buying tickets to visit the Lighthouse Museum and Lighthouse, Dave, Kathy, Eric and I watched an introductory film on the history of the Saint Simons Lighthouses.

The first lighthouse was built in 1810 by James Gould, who was the first of four Lighthouse Keepers. In 1862, the 75 foot tall lighthouse was destroyed by the Confederates to prevent it from being used as a navigational aid by Union troops. The North's blockade of Southern Georgia and following invasion forced Confederates to evacuate Saint Simons Island.

The Lighthouse Museum is
in the former Lighthouse
Keeper's House.

Photography is not allowed
inside the museum.

Following the Civil War, the US Government ordered the construction of a second Lighthouse on Saint Simons Island. Architect Charles Cluskey designed the second Lighthouse and the Italianate styled Lighthouse Keeper's House. Construction of both structures was completed in 1872.

The Lighthouse is said to be haunted by the ghost of Lighthouse Keeper Frederick Osborne. He was shot and killed by the Assistant Lighthouse Keeper after he allegedly made inappropriate remarks to the Assistant's wife.

The current Saint Simon's Lighthouse had seven Lighthouse Keepers from 1872 to 1953, when the Lighthouse was completely automated. The Lighthouse continues to be used for navigation today and is maintained by the Coast Guard Auxiliary.