ANOTHER VIEW FROM THE TOP
HUNTING ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE
AND PARK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
I guess that one of the many things that attracts me to lighthouses and the studies of same are their locations. It seem that I am a water kind of guy regardless of whether it is stream, river, lake or ocean. If it's wet, I want to be there!
Hunting Island Lighthouse is now a resident of the Hunting Island State Park, in SC, which has a fabulous beach, great trails, cabins, and ample parking for extended stays or just day trips. Fishing is not so great from the beach but it is one of the best swimming beaches on the coast. It is located a little over half the way between Charleston and Hilton Head Island and easy access by car.
http://www.huntingisland.com/
The first light at this location was erected shortly before the Civil War. It lasted only a short time, and when the war was over.....so was the tower. The Lighthouse board then selected another site on the island and built the current 128-foot cast iron light, which housed a second order Fresnel lens. It was lit in 1875.
By 1889 erosion was so brutal, and still is, that it was moved some mile and a third from the previous location. Interestingly, the tower was dismantled and moved. Today of course huge lighthouse structures are being moved virtually intact, including the keepers houses and towers. A job similar to moving the space shuttle. Lighthouses on Block Island, Cape Hateras, and Cape Cod come to mind as examples. This lighthouse my be visited by the public as an attraction in the State Park.
The lighthouse is open to climb most days and there is a little gift shop. So if the heat on the beach is to much, a trip under the pines to the lighthouse complex is a great side dish. The place is public but very clean and very definitely a place to take the family. It is really one of those way cool places which you don't find unless you're local or specifically looking for something like the lighthouse.
HUNTING ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE
AND PARK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
I guess that one of the many things that attracts me to lighthouses and the studies of same are their locations. It seem that I am a water kind of guy regardless of whether it is stream, river, lake or ocean. If it's wet, I want to be there!
Hunting Island Lighthouse is now a resident of the Hunting Island State Park, in SC, which has a fabulous beach, great trails, cabins, and ample parking for extended stays or just day trips. Fishing is not so great from the beach but it is one of the best swimming beaches on the coast. It is located a little over half the way between Charleston and Hilton Head Island and easy access by car.
http://www.huntingisland.com/
The first light at this location was erected shortly before the Civil War. It lasted only a short time, and when the war was over.....so was the tower. The Lighthouse board then selected another site on the island and built the current 128-foot cast iron light, which housed a second order Fresnel lens. It was lit in 1875.
By 1889 erosion was so brutal, and still is, that it was moved some mile and a third from the previous location. Interestingly, the tower was dismantled and moved. Today of course huge lighthouse structures are being moved virtually intact, including the keepers houses and towers. A job similar to moving the space shuttle. Lighthouses on Block Island, Cape Hateras, and Cape Cod come to mind as examples. This lighthouse my be visited by the public as an attraction in the State Park.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunting_Island_Light
One of the fun things to do when leaving the island is to stop at the many shrimp stands along the road on the way home. Fresh shrimp caught that morning for sale at way inexpensive prices and are excellent fare.The lighthouse is open to climb most days and there is a little gift shop. So if the heat on the beach is to much, a trip under the pines to the lighthouse complex is a great side dish. The place is public but very clean and very definitely a place to take the family. It is really one of those way cool places which you don't find unless you're local or specifically looking for something like the lighthouse.
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