Notes:
(1) The Seventh Lighthouse established in America.  Morris Island Light or (old) Charleston Light was built to mark the entrance to Charleston Harbor.

      In 1673, a raised Metal Pan filled with burning pitch and oakum served as a early Beacon.  A small tax was levied on every ship entering Charles Towne harbor to maintain the primitive beacon.  In 1716, large tallow candles were used yet the Light was only visible close to shore and Spider lamps burning fish oil replaced the candles.

      During the Revolutionary War, “Charles Towne Light” was one of 10 Lights extinguished by the colonists to obstruct British warships.  Charleston Light remained dark until 1780 when the British relit the seized Lighthouse.

      In 1767, a 42-feet high Conical Octagonal Masonry Tower was built as the original Lighthouse commissioned by King George III.  The Lighthouse was illuminated by whale oil lamps suspended from the Lantern’s interior to safely guide the 800 ships entering the harbor every year.

      The Light was ceded to the new Federal Government after the formation of the Lighthouse Service on August 7, 1789.  In 1800, the Lighthouse was repaired and refitted with a new lighting apparatus after Congress appropriated $5,000 on May 7, 1800.

      In 1802, the tower was rebuilt and the height increased in order to increase the Light’s visible reach out to sea, yet a U.S. Gunboat sank after crashing on the reef at Pumpkin Hill Channel in 1811.  Both the ship and crew disappeared in the swift currents.  As a result, the Light was refitted with a “Winslow’s Patent Magnifying and Reflecting Lantern” illuminated by sperm oil in 1812.  The new system used oil lamps with reflectors to increase the brightness and visible range out to sea.

      In 1837, a new Tower was built on Lighthouse Island near Fort Sumter to replace the original Lighthouse.  The new Lighthouse was a revolving Light atop the tower, 102-feet from the base to the lantern, completed and First Lit in 1838 exhibiting a Flashing White Light illuminated by a 12 oil lamps with 21-inch reflectors.  The optic was refitted with a First-order Fresnel lens on January 1, 1858.

      The Charleston Lighthouse lens, lantern, and tower were destroyed during the Civil War to prevent Union troops using the Light as a lookout tower.  Congress appropriated $60,000 for a new First-order Seacoast Light on March 3, 1873.  The new Lighthouse was to be located near the old Tower on Morris Island (formerly Lighthouse Island).  Additional appropriations in 1874 and 1875 were needed to complete the construction and the total cost of the new Lighthouse was $149,993.  The new 161-feet high Tower with a First-order Fresnel lens was completed in 1876 and First Lit on October 1, 1876.  In 1884, the illuminate was changed from lard oil to mineral oil (kerosene).

      The hurricane of August 25, 1885, destroyed the Morris Island Rear Range Beacon. A temporary beacon was built until 40-feet high wooden skeleton tower was erected in 1885.  The Range Lights were established east and south of the main Lighthouse to guide navigation through the shipping channel.  The Range Lights were deactivated in 1899.

      The earthquake of August 1886 fractured the tower in two locations and the lens was shifted out of position.  The Tower was repaired and the lens was replaced.

      From 1878 to 1895, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built two jetties in Charleston Harbor to improve the harbor and to protect the shoreline of Sullivan’s Island.  The construction of the jetties inadvertently caused the rapid erosion of Morris Island around the Lighthouse.  By 1938, the ocean was encroaching the Light Station which was originally located 1200-feet inland.  The lighthouse was automated on June 22, 1938 and the Keeper’s house and other ancillary buildings were destroyed in 1939.  By 1950, the base of the lighthouse was under 8 feet of water.

      After surviving Hurricane Hugo with sustained winds of 135 mph on Sep 21, 1989, Morris Island Light has been critically endangered since 2001.  The 50-feet deep timber piling foundation has been exposed to tidal erosion and the damage of shipworms since the 1960s.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimated the foundation stabilization and erosion control project will cost $6 million.

      On March 26, 2005, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced the preservation project will be delayed due to the lack of federal funds and the State of South Carolina’s $500,000 commitment was cut from the budget by the Senate on April 8, 2005.  Morris Island Lighthouse must weather another hurricane season before the restoration project to protect its foundation from erosion begins.

(2) On Nov 1, 1816, the Light Characteristic was changed from a fixed to a revolving light, to distinguish the Light from Georgetown Light.  When first seen from 8 or 9 leagues, the time of darkness will be twice that of light.  On approaching the Light, the time of darkness will decrease, and that of light increase. Within three leagues of the Light, the light will not wholly disappear and the difference between the greatest and least light, will be as 44 to 1.

(3) The First-order Fresnel Lens is on Display at Hunting Island State Park.

(4) Morris Island Light was decommissioned and replaced by Sullivan’s Island Light on June 15, 1962.

      After 37 years of private ownership and neglect, Save The Light, Inc. bought the Lighthouse from Columbia businessman, Paul Gunter in February 1999.
On April 21, 2000, the State of South Carolina bought the lighthouse for $1 from Save The Light Inc.

Recent News:
As of April 2007, Save the Light Inc. has raised $4.5 million to restore and preserve Morris Island Light.  Phase I (erosion control) was scheduled to begin in May of 2007 by constructing a ring of sheet piles and stone coffer dam around the base of the Lighthouse in order to repair and stabilize the foundation.