TYBEE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE
Savannah, Georgia
Tybee Island Lighthouse, I gotta say, just has that historic look about it. Very well-kept place. Got there too early to climb it though. We didn't want to hang out at that Howard Johnson's too long. We headed east at the crack of dawn on Hwy 80. You will see Cockspur Island light off to your left from the bridge as you cross over to Tybee Island.
Oglethorpe himself had the first tower built here in 1736, a wooden deal which blew over 4 years later. A bit of bad weather. The next one suffered pretty much the same fate. These had been navigational markers but not displaying a light. Then in 1791, the US government had a light put on the top of the third tower built at the site, but nearly a year later, it burned. It was rebuilt, but out of brick this time and furnished with Winslow Lewis' lamps. In the 1850's, the tower was increased in height to 100 feet. Then they installed a 2nd order lens. After the Civil War, they had to repair it and added more bricks, raising its lens up around 150 feet. Also, a 1st order lens replaced the 2nd order one. The light is still operational was automated in 1972. The grounds are open and you can climb to the top. I wish I had stayed around another half hour to do so.
Here's how I saw it:
OF THE MOUNTAINS
John B Caddell
Copyright 2001