St. Simons Island Light, Maritime beacon in St. Simons Island, Georgia, US
St. Simons Island Light is a white cylindrical tower standing on the coast with a third-order Fresnel lens that sends light across the waters. The tower was rebuilt after the Civil War with careful attention to traditional lighthouse design and construction methods.
An earlier lighthouse built in 1810 was destroyed by artillery fire during the Civil War, prompting the construction of this new tower in 1872. The rebuilding brought modern lighting technology to guide ships safely through the treacherous waters.
The keeper's house next door has been turned into a museum where you can see old maritime items, historical photos, and furniture that show how people lived along Georgia's coast.
You can climb the interior stairs to reach the observation deck, which is usually open in fair weather conditions. The museum area on the ground level is accessible year-round and does not require climbing.
The Fresnel lens inside operates as one of fewer than 80 working examples left in the entire United States and still flashes every 60 seconds. This preserved optical system offers visitors a rare glimpse into how navigation technology worked over a century ago.
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