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Georgetown Light

Coordinates: 33°13′21.47″N 79°11′6.18″W / 33.2226306°N 79.1850500°W / 33.2226306; -79.1850500
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Georgetown Light
Map
LocationWinyah Bay, South Carolina
Coordinates33°13′21.47″N 79°11′6.18″W / 33.2226306°N 79.1850500°W / 33.2226306; -79.1850500
Tower
Constructed1801
FoundationRubblestone caisson
ConstructionBrick
Automated1986
Height87 feet (27 m)
ShapeConical (nb Light List says "cylindrical")
MarkingsWhite with black lantern
HeritageNational Register of Historic Places listed place Edit this on Wikidata
Light
First lit1812, rebuilt 1867
Focal height85 feet (26 m)
Lens4th order Fresnel (1855), VRB-25 (current)
Range15 nautical miles (28 km; 17 mi)
CharacteristicFl W (2), 15 sec
Georgetown Lighthouse
Nearest cityGeorgetown, South Carolina
Area4 acres (1.6 ha)
Built1801 [sic], actually 1812
NRHP reference No.74001857[1]
Added to NRHPDecember 30, 1974

Georgetown Light is an active light on North Island at the entrance to Winyah Bay southeast of Georgetown, South Carolina.[2][3][4] The light is maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard, and the lighthouse is now under the control of State of South Carolina as part of the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center Heritage Preserve. The lighthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The original lighthouse was a cypress tower. It was destroyed by a storm in 1806. In 1812, a 72 feet (22 m) brick tower was built. A fourth-order Fresnel lens was installed in 1857. It was rebuilt and raised to 87 feet (27 m) in 1867 after suffering damage during the Civil War.[3]

The light was automated in 1986. The focal plane is 85 feet (26 m) above mean high water.[2]

The lighthouse and grounds in 2022


References

[edit]
  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Light List, Volume III, Atlantic Coast, Little River, South Carolina to Econfina River, Florida (PDF). Light List. United States Coast Guard. 2012. p. 2.
  3. ^ a b "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: South Carolina". United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on 2017-05-01.
  4. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the United States: South Carolina". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.