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The purpose of the South Carolina Picture Project is to celebrate the beauty of the Palmetto State while preserving some of its vanishing landscapes.

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Hunting Island Lighthouse

SC PICTURE PROJECT 1 Comment

SC Picture Project / Beaufort County / Hunting Island Lighthouse

Hunting Island in Beaufort County received its name because it was once used for hunting deer, raccoon and waterfowl. The lighthouse keepers and their families likely enjoyed the abundance of wild game, but they also raised hogs, chickens, and turkeys and tended a garden as well.

Hunting Island Lighthouse Aerial

Ralph Hobson of Greenville, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The original Hunting Island lighthouse was built in 1859 but was destroyed in the Civil War. It was rebuilt in 1875 of removable cast iron plates that so the structure can easily be moved and rebuilt if necessary. In 1889 erosion led to the lighthouse being dismantled and relocated a mile and a quarter to its current location. The lighthouse remained active until 1933.

Hunting Island Lighthouse Staircase

Margaret M. Emery of Atlanta, Georgia, 2013 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Currently, the Hunting Island Lighthouse is the only historic lighthouse in South Carolina that allows visitors to climb to the top. Within the lighthouse are 167 steps that take visitors to a breathtaking view of the island 132 feet in the air.

Hunting Island Lighthouse SC

Michael Enloe of Aiken, 2012 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Unfortunately, the Atlantic Ocean washes away several feet of shoreline each year. Today, the tower stands 400 feet from the high water mark. If erosion continues at its present rate, the lighthouse might need to be once again moved further inland.

Hunting Island Lighthouse

Mike Scott of Camden, 2009 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The Hunting Island Lighthouse is listed in the National Register:

One of the sea islands near Beaufort, Hunting Island has lush, unspoiled vegetation and wild beauty. It was formerly accessible only by boat, but is presently connected to the mainland by a bridge and causeway. The original lighthouse, a wooden structure built about 1859, was destroyed by beach erosion. In replacing the lighthouse, the US Coast Guard built a tower 136 feet tall. Made of cast iron plates, this was located about ¼ mile from the shoreline, and was designed for relocation if necessary. The new lighthouse complex, completed in 1875, included the keeper’s dwelling, a fire-proof oil house, and several other storage buildings. By 1889, the sea had cut away the northern end of the island, and did necessitate relocation of the lighthouse to its present site, 1 ¼ miles south of the old site. Before its abandonment by the US Lighthouse Service in 1933, Hunting Island Lighthouse cast a 120,000 candle power beam out to sea.

Reflections on the Hunting Island Lighthouse


Contributor Katie Hart says of her photo at the top of the page: “My family and I were looking at seashells on the beach after camping, and I loved the way the lighthouse popped through the trees.”

Hunting Island Park Lighthouse

Katie Hart of Lexington, 2015 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Plan Your Trip: Hunting Island Lighthouse

Where is Hunting Island Lighthouse located?
Address: North Beach Road, Hunting Island, SC 29920
GPS Coordinates: 32.375572,-80.437565
Website: http://southcarolinaparks.com/huntingisland/lighthouse.aspx
What else should I see?
Hunting Island State Park 2.3 miles
Harbor River 3.3 miles
Harbor River Bridge 3.6 miles
St. Helena Island 5.5 miles
Show me more like this!
  • Hunting Island Historic Sites
  • See other South Carolina Lighthouses
  • See other South Carolina National Register
    Hunting Island Lighthouse Map

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    Comments

    1. Maureen Bergen says

      August 24, 2014 at 4:09 PM

      There’s a light burning on the top of the lighthouse! When was this added?

      Reply

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    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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