Cape Romain Lighthouses
Encyclopedia
Cape Romain Lighthouses are a pair of brick lighthouses on Lighthouse Island southeast of McClellanville, South Carolina
. The lighthouses are on the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge
. They survived Hurricane Hugo
that devastated the area.
The original lighthouse, which was built by Winslow Lewis
, is a 65 ft (19.8 m) conical brick tower. It originally had his lamps and reflectors. In 1847, twelve oil lamps with a parabolic reflector were installed. This lighthouse was taken out of service in 1858. It is one of few surviving Winslow Lewis lighthouses.
In 1857, an 150 ft (45.7 m) octagonal brick tower was built. In 1858, a first-order Fresnel lens
was installed. Although is was out of service during the Civil War
, it was operating in 1866. after the Civil War
. In 1931, a revolving beacon replaced the Fresnel lens. It was automated in 1937 and decommissioned in 1947. Built slightly out of plumb, this tower has a distinct tilt.
The current daymark
of the 1827 lighthouse is red, and the lantern is missing. The 1857 lighthouse has distinctive white and black markings. The upper two-thirds of the tower's octagonal sides alternate white and black; the lower one-third is white. Its lantern survives.
The lighthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places
, #74001857. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History has additional pictures and information and a copy of the nomination form for Cape Romain Lighthouses.
McClellanville, South Carolina
McClellanville is a small fishing town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 459 at the 2000 census. It is situated on the Atlantic coast, on land surrounded by Francis Marion National Forest and has traditionally derived its livelihood from the sea and coastal...
. The lighthouses are on the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge
Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge
The Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge is a 66,287 acre National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern South Carolina near Awendaw on South Carolina's only cape, Cape Romain. are designated as Class I Wilderness...
. They survived Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo was a classical, destructive and rare Cape Verde-type hurricane which struck the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St. Croix, Puerto Rico and the USA mainland in South Carolina as a Category 4 hurricane during September of the 1989 Atlantic hurricane season...
that devastated the area.
The original lighthouse, which was built by Winslow Lewis
Winslow Lewis
Winslow Lewis was a sea captain, engineer, inventor and contractor active in the construction of many American lighthouses during the first half of the nineteenth century....
, is a 65 ft (19.8 m) conical brick tower. It originally had his lamps and reflectors. In 1847, twelve oil lamps with a parabolic reflector were installed. This lighthouse was taken out of service in 1858. It is one of few surviving Winslow Lewis lighthouses.
In 1857, an 150 ft (45.7 m) octagonal brick tower was built. In 1858, a first-order Fresnel lens
Fresnel lens
A Fresnel lens is a type of lens originally developed by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel for lighthouses.The design allows the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design...
was installed. Although is was out of service during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, it was operating in 1866. after the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. In 1931, a revolving beacon replaced the Fresnel lens. It was automated in 1937 and decommissioned in 1947. Built slightly out of plumb, this tower has a distinct tilt.
The current daymark
Daymark
A daymark or a day marker is a structure such as a tower constructed on land as an aid to navigation by sailors. While similar in concept to a lighthouse, a daymark does not have a light and so is usually only visible during daylight hours...
of the 1827 lighthouse is red, and the lantern is missing. The 1857 lighthouse has distinctive white and black markings. The upper two-thirds of the tower's octagonal sides alternate white and black; the lower one-third is white. Its lantern survives.
The lighthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, #74001857. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History has additional pictures and information and a copy of the nomination form for Cape Romain Lighthouses.