Georgetown Light, Lighthouse at Winyah Bay entrance near Georgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown Light is a white brick tower with a black lantern room at the entrance to Winyah Bay. The structure houses a Fresnel lens and helps guide vessels safely through the waterway.
An original wooden tower built in 1801 was destroyed by a storm just five years later. The current brick structure was erected in 1812 and has remained standing since.
The lighthouse represents Georgetown's role as a major port where merchant ships loaded rice and indigo for distant markets. Visitors can sense the maritime heritage that shaped this coastal town.
The site is located within a wildlife preserve and can be reached by car or on foot. Visitors should come prepared for changing tides and coastal weather conditions.
The grounds sit within a wildlife preserve that conceals remnants of two abandoned settlements from the 1800s. These hidden archaeological sites reveal stories of early resort communities that once thrived nearby.
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