Little Cumberland Island Light, Historic lighthouse in Little Cumberland Island, Georgia, US.
Little Cumberland Island Light is a brick lighthouse tower at the northern end of Little Cumberland Island, marking the entrance to St. Andrew Sound and the Satilla River. The structure rises 61 feet and was equipped with optical systems to guide ships safely and mark the rocky coastline.
Construction began in 1837 following a Congressional appropriation, and the lighthouse became operational in 1838. It served for decades as a critical navigation aid for vessels traveling along the Georgia coast.
The lighthouse received a third-order Fresnel lens manufactured by Henri LePaute in France, extending its visibility range to 14 nautical miles.
The lighthouse is privately owned and closed to public access, so visitors can only view it from the surrounding waters or from beyond the dune. Taking a boat tour or having access to watercraft is helpful for viewing this structure from the water.
In 1876 a protective brick wall was built around the base of the lighthouse, extending 2 feet below the foundation. This innovative construction was designed to shield the structure from the effects of coastal erosion.
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