Charleston Light

Completed in 1962 on Sullivan's Island, the Charleston Light was the last major lighthouse built in the United States. Architect Jack Graham designed it while enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, and many of its features reflected the influence of his professor, modernist architect Louis Khan. The lighthouse is a triangular structure with steel girders for its framework, aluminum alloy siding, and a service elevator, and its three-sided design was chosen to withstand winds up to 125 miles per hour. In 1962 it was one of the brightest lighthouses in the world at 28-million candlepower. Five years later its lanterns were dimmed to 1.2 candlepower, and they can still be seen 27 miles offshore. Originally painted red-orange and white, it was later repainted in its current black and white daymark after residents complained about its appearance. The red-orange paint can still be seen under the balcony off the lantern room and on the interior ladder walls. Jack Graham's design made a lasting contribution to Sullivan's Island and to U.S. maritime history. The lighthouse stands 162.5 feet tall, and Coast Guard personnel had to climb 35 feet of vertical ladder to reach the top. At sea, lighthouses are distinguished by unique flash patterns and paint designs, and the Charleston Light produces two flashes every 30 seconds in a distinctive pattern.

Sullivan's Island, South Carolina · United States