Cockspur Island Lighthouse at Fort Pulaski National Monument
The Cockspur Island Lighthouse sits at the mouth of the Savannah River’s South Channel because in 1837 when the original navigational aide was built, which was nothing more than an unlit tower used as a day marker, the South Channel was the route used by nearly all ship traffic. A light was added to the original tower in 1849, and this structure lasted until 1854 when it was destroyed by a massive hurricane. The current lighthouse, built in 1856, is its replacement.
During the Civil War, the Confederates put out the light so the Union Navy would have trouble navigating the river. The lighthouse was directly in the line of fire when the bombardment of Fort Pulaski began on April 10, 1862, but it sustained only minor damage. The lighthouse survived hurricanes in 1881 and 1893 but could not survive once ship traffic migrated from the South Channel to the North Channel in the early 1900s. On June 1, 1909, the Cockspur Island Lighthouse was put out of service. It was added to Fort Pulaski National Monument in 1958. It is one of only five lighthouses still standing in Georgia. (Another of the five is located just a short drive away on Tybee Island, and it is open to climbing for a fee).
The island on which the lighthouse stands is only 150 yards from Cockspur Island. At high tide it is almost completely underwater, but it is exposed at low tide. Both the island and the lighthouse are closed to the public due to the structure being in poor condition and needing extensive renovation. If and when it will reopen is unknown. You can still paddle or motorboat out to it, but you cannot go ashore. Anyone landing on the island is subject to being fined by the National Park Service. For a view of the lighthouse from Cockspur Island, take the Lighthouse Overlook Trail from the fort area.
Cockspur Island Lighthouse at low tide, Fort Pulaski National Monument
Cockspur Island Lighthouse at high tide, Fort Pulaski National Monument
The top of the lighthouse that covers and protects the light and lens, known as a cupola, was removed in 1995 after cracks were discovered. A replica replacement now sits atop the Cockspur Island Lighthouse. The original is on display near the Fort Pulaski National Monument Visitor Center.
Original cupola of the Cockspur Island Lighthouse on display at the Fort Pulaski National Monument Visitor Center
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Last updated on November 8, 2024
