Sullivan's Island Range Lights
Encyclopedia
The Sullivan's Island Range Lights were range lights on the southern end of Sullivan's Island
in Charleston County
, South Carolina
. The light station was first established in 1848 and was destroyed in 1861 during the Civil War
. It was rebuilt after the war and the lights were in existence at least as late as 1901. Neither of the range lights still remains today.
Sullivan's Island is a barrier island
at the northern entrance to the Charleston
harbor. The entire island is now the Town of Sullivan's Island. It is the location of Fort Moultrie and the current Charleston Light
.
and was destroyed during the war in 1861. After the surrender of Confederate forces in Charleston, a temporary beacon was placed in a skeletal tower
on the roof of a private house. This light guided ships through the channel near the wreck of the ironclad USS Weehawken
and also a lightship
was placed over the wreck.
Range lights were then placed in Fort Moultrie in 1872, with the front beacon rested on the fort's parapet
and the lightship was removed. The station also included keeper's quarters.
In 1878 the front beacon was moved from the parapet to the glacis
of the fort. In 1879 it was raised 6 feet (1.8 m) and placed upon a brick room that served as an oil room. It was surrounded by a white picket fence.
In 1883, it was painted red. In 1886, the front beacon was moved 12 feet (4 m) to the west. In 1899, the rear range light was discontinued and replaced by two front range lights. On 20 May 1899 it was renamed as the "South Channel Range" lights.
In 1901, the Front Light was about 360 feet (110 m) southeast of the southeastern angle of Fort Moultrie, and the other light was about 190 feet (58 m) to the east of the Front light. The lights were eventually removed at an unknown date.
Sullivan's Island, South Carolina
Sullivan's Island is a town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States, on a similarly named island at the entrance to Charleston Harbor. The population was 1,911 at the 2000 census. It is also the site of a major battle of the American Revolution at Fort Sullivan on June 28, 1776. As...
in Charleston County
Charleston County, South Carolina
Charleston County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. According to a 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, its population was 330,368. Its county seat is Charleston. It is the third-most populous county in the state . Charleston County was created in 1901 by an act of the South...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. The light station was first established in 1848 and was destroyed in 1861 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 rebuilt after the war and the lights were in existence at least as late as 1901. Neither of the range lights still remains today.
Sullivan's Island is a barrier island
Barrier island
Barrier islands, a coastal landform and a type of barrier system, are relatively narrow strips of sand that parallel the mainland coast. They usually occur in chains, consisting of anything from a few islands to more than a dozen...
at the northern entrance to the Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
harbor. The entire island is now the Town of Sullivan's Island. It is the location of Fort Moultrie and the current Charleston Light
Charleston Light
Charleston Light on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, which is the northern entrance to Charleston Harbor, was built to replace the defunct Morris Island Light on Morris Island. Construction was started in 1960, and it was first lit on June 15, 1962....
.
History
The station was established in 1848 to guide ships over the Charleston BarCharleston Bar
Charleston Bar is a series of submerged shoals lying about eight miles southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, United States.-See also:* Battle of Sullivan's Island...
and was destroyed during the war in 1861. After the surrender of Confederate forces in Charleston, a temporary beacon was placed in a skeletal tower
Skeletal tower
Skeletal Frame Light Towers are lighthouse towers that have only an open frame. They are commonly built as aids to navigation; most of them are not considered to be lighthouses. However, during the late nineteenth century and the first years of the twentieth, larger skeletal towers were installed...
on the roof of a private house. This light guided ships through the channel near the wreck of the ironclad USS Weehawken
USS Weehawken (1862)
The first USS Weehawken was a Passaic-class ironclad monitor in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.Weehawken was launched on 5 November 1862 at Jersey City, New Jersey by Zeno Secor & Company; sponsored by Ms. Nellie Cornstock; and commissioned on 18 January 1863, Captain John...
and also a lightship
Lightvessel
A lightvessel, or lightship, is a ship which acts as a lighthouse. They are used in waters that are too deep or otherwise unsuitable for lighthouse construction...
was placed over the wreck.
Range lights were then placed in Fort Moultrie in 1872, with the front beacon rested on the fort's parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
and the lightship was removed. The station also included keeper's quarters.
In 1878 the front beacon was moved from the parapet to the glacis
Glacis
A glacis in military engineering is an artificial slope of earth used in late European fortresses so constructed as to keep any potential assailant under the fire of the defenders until the last possible moment...
of the fort. In 1879 it was raised 6 feet (1.8 m) and placed upon a brick room that served as an oil room. It was surrounded by a white picket fence.
In 1883, it was painted red. In 1886, the front beacon was moved 12 feet (4 m) to the west. In 1899, the rear range light was discontinued and replaced by two front range lights. On 20 May 1899 it was renamed as the "South Channel Range" lights.
In 1901, the Front Light was about 360 feet (110 m) southeast of the southeastern angle of Fort Moultrie, and the other light was about 190 feet (58 m) to the east of the Front light. The lights were eventually removed at an unknown date.